EVALUATION OF DIURETIC ACTIVITY FROM TEUCRIUM POLIUM L. CAPITATUM EXTRACTS (LAMIACEAE) IN RATS

The present study was carried out to investigate the diuretic activity of the ethanolic extract of Teucrium polium L. Capitatum (Lamiaceae)in normal albino rats. The diuretic activity of extract was evaluated by determining the urine volume and electrolyte concentration in albino rats (n=4). Furosemide (20 mg/kg) was used as the reference diuretic drug while normal saline (0.9%) was used as control. Alcoholic extract of the drug (25 mg/kg and 50mg/kg) were used as tests. Urine output and electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻) excretion were estimated at the end of 8 hours. Ethanolic eextract has significantly increased the volume of urine (6.70±0.09ml/100g/8hr and 8.40 ±0.46ml/100gm/8hr), and has also increased the diuretic index to 1.09 and 1.37 for 25mg/kg and 50mg/kg dose ranges respectively (P< 0.01). The test drug, when compared to the control group, displayed a significant increase in the excretion of potassium and chloride. There was an increase in the saluretic index as reflected by the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio to 5.03 and 5.44 respectively for the two dosages studied when compared to furosemide which noted a saluretic index of 2.28. The extract (50 mg/kg) showed significant increase in urine volume as well as K+ and Cl- ion concentrations in albino rats. These findings support the traditional uses of Teucrium poliumL. as diuretic agent in folk medicine.