title: Diuretic effect of the crude extracts of Carissa edulis in rats.
abstract: Carissa edulis (forssk) vahl (Apocynaceae) is used traditionally for the treatment of headache, chest complaints, rheumatism, gonorrhoea, syphilis, rabies and as a diuretic. In the present study, the diuretic activity of different extracts of Carissa edulis was investigated. The diuretic activity of the different extracts of Carissa edulis in a dose range of 50-1000 mg/kg was assessed orally in rats using hydrochlorothiazide as a standard drug. The root bark maceration extract showed no effect on the urine output up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg, while the root bark soxhlet extract produced a significant increase (P < 0.05) in urine output at a dose of 1000 mg/kg. The root wood maceration and root wood soxhlet extracts produced a significant increase in urine output at a dose of 50 mg/kg, with a P-value of <0.05. Urinary electrolyte excretion was also affected by the extracts: the root bark soxhlet extract increased urinary excretion of sodium, potassium and chloride ions; root wood maceration extract increased excretion of sodium and potassium, while root wood soxhlet extract increased excretion of potassium ion. These findings support the traditional use of Carissa edulis as a diuretic agent.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 100658, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. teshnm@phar.aau.edu.et
authors.forename: Teshome
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nedi
authors.forename: Negussu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mekonnen
authors.forename: Kelbessa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Urga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029062:Apocynaceae; D004232:Diuretics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes; D010936:Plant Extracts