Study of diuretic activity of aqueous extract of amaranthus spinosus linn on rats

Abstract

Background: Traditional Siddha medicine literature claims that the Amaranthus spinosus Linn. Whole plant possesses diuretic property. The aim of the present study is to investigate the diuretic activity of aqueous extract of amaranthus spinosus linn on rats.Methods: The rats were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each and deprived of food for 18 hours before the experiments. Control (Group I) rats were treated with Normal saline (5ml/Kg,) and Standard (Group II) rats were administered furosemide 15mg/Kg, I.P. Group III and IV were treated with Aqueous extract of Amaranthus spinosus Linn (AEAS) 250 and 500 mg/kg in normal saline respectively, The urine was collected after 5 and 24 hours. The urine volume and the total concentration of Na+, K+, and Cl- in the urine were estimated. The data were presented as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Student's "t"-test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Conventional windows software was used for statistical analysis.Results: Urine analysis showed that Na+, K+, and Cl- levels were significantly (p<0.05) increased with AEAS 250 and 500 mg/kg as rats treated with furosemide 15mg/kg. Urine volume is significantly (p<0.05) increased in rats treated with drugs (AEAS 500 mg/kg and furosemide 15mg/kg) compared to normal saline 25ml/Kg, treated rats at 5 and 24 hours.Conclusions: These data suggest that AEAS has produced notable diuretic effect which appeared to be comparable to that produced by the standard diuretic furosemide.