title: Comparative pharmacognosy of Pashanbhed.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pashanbhed is a commercially available diuretic and lithotropic drug, used to treat renal problems. It is a controversial name as it is assigned to various plants such as Bergenia ligulata, Kalanchoe pinnata, Coleus aromaticus and Rotula aquatica.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform the comparative preliminary phytochemical screening, diuretic activity, and thin layer chromatography (TLC) finger printing profile of three plants (B. ligulata, C. aromaticus, and K. pinnata), most commonly used as Pashanbhed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diuretic potential of methanolic extract (ME) of three plants were evaluated at two dose levels (500 and 1,000 mg/kg p.o.), using normal Wistar rats (Lipschitz method). Furosemide (20 mg/kg p.o.) was used as a standard drug. The effect on urine output and electrolyte changes were measured for 24 h and compared. All MEs were screened preliminarily for their constituents and their TLC finger printing profiles were prepared. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MEs of all three plants have shown diuresis in normal rats. However, in intercomparison of the ME C. aromaticus (1,000 mg/kg p.o.) produced more significant diuresis (P < 0.05) and electrolyte excretion compared to other test groups, the effect was at par with furosemide. The ME of these plants showed presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ME of C. aromaticus (1,000 mg/kg p.o.) has showed highest diuretic action (4.2) among the tested extracts. This suggests the use of C. aromaticus leaves as "Pashanbhed"; the most effective diuretic drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Indo Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Indo Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gauttam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Indo Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Ajudhia N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kalia
keywords: Bergenia ligulata; coleus aromaticus; diuretic; kalanchoe pinnata; pashanbhed