Physico-chemical studies and evaluation of diuretic activity of &lt;i&gt;Cucurbita maxima&lt;/i&gt;

Venkattapuram Sampath Saravanan,Sellimuthu Manokaran

doi:10.3329/bjp.v7i4.12497

Abstract

In this study physico-chemical nature and diuretic activity was evaluated to establish the purity and diuretic activity by comparing with the standard acetazolamide. Pulp of Cucurbita maxima is a common cost effective Indian dish, rich in nutrients. Physico-chemical parameters like ash values, extractive values and loss on drying were performed to find the purity. The hydro-alcoholic extract was prepared by extracting the powder in soxhlet apparatus for 36 hrs. The laboratory qualitative analysis was done and constituents like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, flavonoids, alkaloids and vitamin C were found. The two doses of extract (150 and 300 mg/kg) were given to the rats. Group I served as control, Group II served as standard and Group III and IV served as test. Electrolytes and urine volume was measured after 5 hrs of treatment and the same was compared with the control and the standard drug acetazolamide. Physico-chemical parameters were in the limit and the extract shows significant (p<0.01) diuretic activity at the dose of 300 mg/kg when compared with control.

Highlights

Medicinal plants can be important sources of unknown chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects
The ash remaining following the ignition of medicinal plants is determined by three different methods which measures, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, sulfated ash and water soluble ash
Diuretic activity was measured by collecting total excreted urine (0-5 hours) of rat kept in metabolic cage

Summary

Introduction

Medicinal plants can be important sources of unknown chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. The ash remaining following the ignition of medicinal plants is determined by three different methods which measures, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, sulfated ash and water soluble ash. Extractive values are useful to evaluate the nature of constituents present in the crude drug. Water soluble extractive and alcohol soluble extractive values were calculated as per standard procedures.

Results

Conclusion