Evaluation of Diuretic Potential of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Pavetta crassipes (K. Schum) in Rats

Abstract

Pavetta crassipes is a plant used in the treatment of hypertension. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diuretic potential of aqueous leaf extract of P. crassipes in rats. Four hours and twenty-four hours diuretic and natriuretic activities of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of P. crassipes were determined with distilled water and 10 mg/kg furosemide acting as negative and positive controls respectively in rats. Urine output was measured using graduated and transparent tubes on rat’s metabolic cages, while urinary sodium, potassium, and chloride assays were carried out using a spectrophotometer and standard test kits. P. crassipes extract at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg lacks diuretic activity at four hours but showed diuretic activity at 24hours when compared with furosemide. The aqueous extract (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly increased urine output when compared with the distilled water group at 24 hours (p=0.03, p=0.04, and p=0.01, respectively). All the tested doses of the extract had a lower four hours natriuretic value when compared with furosemide, but higher natriuretic values at 24hours. The extract increased the excretion of sodium (Na+ ), potassium (K+ ) and chloride (Cl- ). The aqueous leaf extract of P. crassipes increased urine output in rats, with a late onset of diuresis and a good natriuretic activity at 24 hours, suggesting it as a possible good diuretic agent.