Evaluación de la actividad diurética del extracto acuoso de Eryngium heterophyllum Engelm (hierba del sapo) en la rata

Abstract

Eryngium heterophyllum Engelm, known as “toad grass”, has been traditionally used in renal diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diuretic activity of the aqueous extract in the rat. The vegetal material was collected, identified, and the preliminary phytochemical study was carried out. For the diuretic evaluation, Wistar rats, female, adult of 200 ± 20 g of body weight (b.w.) were used, and they were distributed in five groups: the vehicle, the furosemide group (4 mg/kg of b.w.) and the aqueous extract at the doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of b.w., per os. After six hours in metabolic cages, urine and serum samples were obtained to measure the concentrations of sodium, potassium and creatinine. With these data, urine flow and creatinine, Na+ and K+ clearance, excretion and filtered ion load were calculated. LD50 in femal NIH mice, adults of 25 ± 5 g of b.w., treated with the extract (1, 2, 4 and 8 g/kg of b.w.) was determined. Decoction is used and the phytochemical study coumarins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins were detected. In the diuretic evaluation, an increase in the urinary flow, in the urinary excretion and ion clearance in the groups treated with furosemide and at different doses of the extract were observed. The LD50 is higher than 8 g/kg of b.w. Eryngium heterophyllum Engelm diuretic action was induced by direct renal tubular effect. The study of plant species is important to support their empirical use.