A Study on Pharmacological Evaluation of Diuretic Activity of Tinospora cordifolia Stem Ethanolic Extract

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the diuretic effects of Tinospora cordifolia stem ethanolic extract in Swiss Albino Rats. The administration of the higher dose (200 mg/kg) of the ethanolic extract derived from the stem part of Tinospora cordifolia resulted in a significant increase in diuresis during the 6th hour, with a measured output of 1.93 + 1.21ml, compared to the control group (0.38+ 0.12 ml). This effect was also compared to the reference standard, furosemide, which produced an output of 2.45 + 1.12ml (p < 0.05). Similarly, the higher dose (400 mg/kg) of Tinospora cordifolia stem extract demonstrated significant diuretic activity (2.70 + 1.15 ml) compared to the control group (1.14 + 0.09 ml) (p < 0.05). The increase in urine output was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The study also analysed the impact of furosemide (10 mg/kg) and Tinospora cordifolia extracts at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg on the excretion of electrolytes (Na+ and K+) in the 6-hour urine samples. The pH of the urine samples following treatment with Tinospora cordifolia stem extract at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg was measured to be 5.48 and 6.79, respectively. The results obtained in this study provide a quantitative basis for explaining the diuretic activity of Tinospora cordifolia. The extract displayed notable diuretic activity, thus supporting its traditional use as a diuretic in ethno-pharmacology. Further investigations, including phytochemical and pharmacodynamic studies, are necessary to identify the active constituents responsible for this activity and to understand the exact mechanism of the diuretic effect exhibited by the aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia.