title: Pharmacological characterization of the diuretic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (Malvaceae) extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) populary known in Mexico as "Jamaica", "flor de Jamaica", has widely used in Mexican Traditional Medicine as antihypertensive and diuretic, although the latter activity has been reported the present work show evidence about the diuretic, natriuretic and potassium-sparing effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diuretic activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract on in vivo and in situ models.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract was administrated in increasing doses and evaluated the diuresis produced and disposal of electrolytes. Moreover, in isolated kidney was determined the renal filtration rate with plant extract, furosemide and amiloride.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The yield of Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extraction was 28.3% and the chemical standardization from 1 g of extract was: 56.5 mg delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside, 20.8 mg/g cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside, 3.2 mg/g quercetin, 2.1 mg/g rutin and 2.7 mg/g chlorogenic acid. The diuretic and natriuretic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract showed a dose-dependent behavior. The pharmacological constants of natriuretic effect was ED50=86 mg/kg and Emax=0.9 mEq/100 g/5 h. In the model of kidney in situ was observed that renal filtration increased 48% with the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa and an additive effect when was perfuse with furosemide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The compound presents in Hibiscus sabdariffa as quercetin had effect on the vascular endothelium causing oxide nitric release, increasing renal vasorelaxation by increasing kidney filtration. Therefore, the diuretic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa may be mediated by nitric oxide release.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Argentina No. 1 Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alarcón-Alonso
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamilpa
authors.forename: Francisco Alarcón
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herrera-Ruiz
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tortoriello
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Ferrer
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D035264:Flowers; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D045283:Natriuretic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004573:Electrolytes; D045283:Natriuretic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000584:Amiloride; D005665:Furosemide