Diuretic activity of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the surface layer of Poria cocos in rat.
BACKGROUND
Poria cocos Wolf (Polyporaceae) is a well-known traditional East-Asian medicinal fungus. the epidermis ("Fu-Ling-Pi" in Chinese) of the sclerotia is used as a diuretic. This study was conducted to evaluate of ethanol extract (EE) and aqueous extract (AE) of the diuretic activity of Fu-Ling-Pi in saline-loaded rats.


METHODS
The EE and AE were orally administered to rats. Urinary excretion rate, pH and electrolyte excretion were measured in the urine of saline-loaded rats.


RESULTS
Urinary excretion rates were significantly increased by the EE. The three doses of AE only produced a slight increase urinary output. The EE had little or no effect on K(+) excretion, but did indeed induce a notable excretion of Na(+), that was in agreement with the urinary excretion. The three doses of AE produced an increase Na(+) and K(+) excretion, but did not arrive at statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirmed that the not aqueous but ethanol extracts of the epidermis of Poria cocos presents a remarkable diuretic effect.
Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, No. 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, PR China. zyy@nwu.edu.cn
Ying-Yong
YY
Zhao
Ya-Long
YL
Feng
Xiao
X
Du
Zhi-Hui
ZH
Xi
Xian-Long
XL
Cheng
Feng
F
Wei
D000818:Animals; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D055441:Poria; D051381:Rats; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014556:Urine; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D000070660:Wolfiporia
D004232:Diuretics; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004573:Electrolytes; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol