title: Diuretic and antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of leaves of Cassia occidentalis (Linn.) in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the putative diuretic and antioxidant properties of Cassia occidentalis (C. occidentalis) leaves' aqueous extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult rats were administered with C. occidentalis leaves aqueous extract acutely (24 h) and subchronically (7 d), at doses 80, 160, 240, 320, and 400 mg/kg (per os). Negative control group received only an equivalent volume of distilled water, while the two positive control groups received the diuretic drugs furosemide (20 mg/kg, ip.) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (20 mg/kg, ip.). Urinary elimination of electrolytes in response to treatments was evaluated, together with changes in concentrations of creatinine, urea, aldosterone, glucose, and albumin in urine and plasma. Various urinary indicators of kidney function and plasmatic markers of oxidative stress were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acute administration of C. occidentalis increased the urinary excretion of 107.58% at the higher dose tested, compared to negative control. The reference drugs furosemide and HCTZ induced increases of 84.27% and 48.05%, respectively. Acutely, the extract induced Na(+) and Cl(-) elimination, whereas subchronically an increase in K(+) elimination was also observed. The extract also improved the kidney function indexes and oxidative stress markers. These effects were dose-dependent and comparable with positive control observations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings strongly suggest that C. occidentalis aqueous extract has diuretic and antioxidant activities, and deserves further studies considering the potential for the treatment of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Electronic address: ntchapda71@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Fidèle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ntchapda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barama
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
authors.forename: David Romain
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kemeta Azambou
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Paul Faustin Seke
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Etet
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Théophile
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
keywords: Antioxidant; Cassia occidentalis; Diuretic; Electrolytes; Kidney function; Urine