title: Prolonged Diuretic Activity and Calcium-Sparing Effect of Tropaeolum majus: Evidence in the Prevention of Osteoporosis.
abstract: Although several studies indicate high effectiveness in the use of the hydroethanolic extract from Tropaeolum majus (HETM) as a diuretic, the impact of its prolonged use in the presence of low estrogen levels remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the diuretic effects of prolonged administration of HETM in ovariectomized rats and their interrelationship between calcium excretion and bone turnover. Forty-two female Wistar rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated orally with different doses of HETM (3, 30, and 300 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. On the first day of treatment and at weekly intervals for four weeks the diuretic activity was evaluated. Electrolyte concentrations and creatinine levels were estimated from urine sample of each rat. The serum lipids, urea, creatinine, and osteocalcin were also measured at the end of the experiment. The data revealed that the HETM was able to sustain its diuretic effect after prolonged treatment. Moreover, its use has not affected the urinary calcium or potassium excretion, reduces lipid levels, and maintains osteocalcin levels similarly to untreated rats. These findings support the potential of HETM as a candidate to be used in clinical conditions in which the renal loss of calcium is not desired.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lorena Neris
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Barboza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Médicas e da Saúde, Universidade Paranaense, P.O. Box 224, 87502-210 Umuarama, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Bruno Lima
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Prando
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 19031, 81531-990 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dalsenter
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Rodovia Dourados, Itahum, km 12, P.O. Box 533, 79.804-970 Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francielly Mourão
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fitopatologia, Centro Universitário Cesumar, P.O. Box 204, 87050-900 Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francielli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Médicas e da Saúde, Universidade Paranaense, P.O. Box 224, 87502-210 Umuarama, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ezilda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jacomassi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Médicas e da Saúde, Universidade Paranaense, P.O. Box 224, 87502-210 Umuarama, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valdinei de Oliveira
authors.initials: Vde O
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Médicas e da Saúde, Universidade Paranaense, P.O. Box 224, 87502-210 Umuarama, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emerson Luiz Botelho
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Rodovia Dourados, Itahum, km 12, P.O. Box 533, 79.804-970 Dourados, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arquimedes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasparotto Junior