title: Ethnopharmacological investigation of the diuretic and hemodynamic properties of native species of the Brazilian biodiversity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although Echinodorus grandiflorus, Cuphea carthagenensis, and Phyllanthus tenellus infusions are used in Brazilian folk medicine due to their possible diuretic effect, none of these species was critically investigated as a diuretic drug. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible acute diuretic activity of ethanol soluble fractions (ES) obtained from these species and assess the relationship between renal cortical blood flow and their antioxidant and hypotensive activity using normotensive Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preparation obtained from E. grandiflorus (ES-EG), C. carthagenensis (ES-CC), and P. tenellus (ES-PT) infusions was orally administered in a single dose to rats. Urine excretion rate, pH, density, conductivity and Na(+), K(+), Cl(-) and HCO3(-) contents were measured in the urine of saline-loaded animals. Concentration of electrolytes, total protein, urea, creatinine, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity were evaluated in collected serum. The involvement of the renal cortical blood flow and antioxidative activity in the hypotensive and diuretic effects was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Water and Na(+), Cl(-) and Na(+) excretion rates were significantly increased by ES-EG, while urinary bicarbonate excretion was reduced. Moreover, ES obtained from E. grandiflorus was able to significantly increase renal blood flow and reduce mean arterial pressure and oxidative stress in "in vitro" and "in vivo" models. All other parameters evaluated were not affected by any treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results presented here shown that the ES-EG obtained from E. grandiflorus leaves shown a significant diuretic and hypotensive activity and suggest that these effects could be related with an important renal and systemic vasodilator effect. In addition, it was shown for the first time that the pharmacological effects of ES obtained from P. tenellus and C. carthagenensis do not support its popular use as a diuretic agent.
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, ,Curitiba, PR Brazil.
authors: Thiago Buno
authors: TB
authors: Lima Prando
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, ,Curitiba, PR Brazil.
authors: Lorena Neris
authors: LN
authors: Barboza
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors: Francielly Mourão
authors: FM
authors: Gasparotto
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, ,Curitiba, PR Brazil.
authors: Valdinei de Oliveira
authors: Vde O
authors: Araújo
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil.
authors: Cleide Adriane
authors: CA
authors: Slgnor Tirloni
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: laurosouza@hotmail.com.
authors: Lauro Mera
authors: LM
authors: de Souza
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, ,Curitiba, PR Brazil.
authors: Emerson Luiz Botelho
authors: EL
authors: Lourenço
authors: Laboratório de Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brasil. Electronic address: arquimedesgasparotto@gmail.com.
authors: Arquimedes
authors: A
authors: Gasparotto Junior
mesh_terms: D034901:Alismataceae; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil / Q000208:ethnology; D031562:Cuphea; D004232:Diuretics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology / Q000379:methods*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D029803:Phyllanthus; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cuphea carthagenensis; Diuretic; Echinodorus grandiflorus; Hypotensive; Phyllanthus tenellus; Vasodilator