DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF ROOT AND BARK OF ERYTHRINA INDICA LAM.

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to investigate diuretic effect of aqueous and methanol extracts of the dried seeds of erythrina indica in normal rats. Method: Aqueous and methanol extracts of erythrina indica seeds were administered to experimental rats orally at doses of 25 and 30 ml/kg p.o. Furosemide (10 mg/kg) was used as positive control in the study. The diuretic effect of the extracts was evaluated by measuring urine volume, sodium and potassium content, conductivity and chloride content. Result: Urine volume was significantly increased by the two doses of aqueous and methanol extracts from root and bark of erythrina indica in comparison to control group. While the excretion of sodium was also increased by both extracts, potassium excretion was only increased by the aqueous extract at a dose of. 25 ml/kg. There was no significant change in the conductivity and pH of urine after administration of the erythrina indica extracts. The diuretic effect of the extracts was comparable to that of the reference standard (Furosemide). Conclusion: We can conclude that aqueous and methanol extracts of erythrina indica produced diuretic effect. Present study provides a quantitative basis for explaining the diuretic use of erythrina indica as a diuretic agent.