Diuretics are efficaciously used in management of various clinical emergencies like hypertension, heart failure, cirrhosis, hypercalciuria, hematuria and nephrotic syndrome. Cymbopogon jwarancusa is an aromatic perennial grass used in both traditional and Unani system of medicine to eradicate diseases like colds, seasonal fever, asthma, tuberculosis, rheumatic pain, back pain, toothache and nervous disorders. C. jwarancusa essential oils are used in perfumery, soap, detergents, medicines and pharmaceutical industry. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes constitute the highest composition in essential oil of C. jwarancusa. The present was designed to compare the diuretic activity of C. jwarancusa after single and multi-doses. Furosemide (20 mg/kg) was used as reference drug and 10% DMSO was used as vehicle. Diuretic activity was noticed by measuring urine volume and calculating diuretic and Lipchitz values. Maximum diuretic response was observed at 500 mg/kg of extract after both single and multi-dose administration. On basis of results it may be concluded that C. jwarancusa may be used as diuretic agent.
Maintenance of homeostasis is very important for a normal healthy life, since existence of life becomes difficult if any change disturbs this balance. Diuretics preserve this balance by maintain blood volume as well as concentration of excess ions in the body. These properties enable diuretics to treat various pathologies e.g. hypertension, congestive heart failure, hypercalciuria, edema, nephritic syndrome, cirrhosis and renal dysfunctions [
Diuretics mainly alters the excretion of electrolytes and water by acting on renal tubules. Various classes of diuretics include carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, thiazide, loop, potassium sparing and osmotic diuretics [
Most common undesired effects of diuretics are hypomagnesaemia, hyponatrimea, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia, hypokalemia while less common side effects are weakness, impotence and fatigue [
In modern era herbal remedies are preferred over traditional medicines in eradicating numerous diseases, but are slow in action however thought to produce less side effects. C. jwarancusa is an aromatic perennial grass (Rusha grass, khavi grass) belonging to family Poaceaea, used in both traditional and Unani system of medicine for treatment of various ailment e.g. vomiting, fever, inflammatory condition, blood impurities and skin problems [
Aerial parts of C. jwarancusa were collected from University of Karachi and identified by herbarium, Department of Botany. A voucher specimen No. 93325 was then deposited in the herbarium. The parts of the plant were washed to remove impurities, dried, chopped and soaked in ethanol for 20 days. The filtered extract was then evaporated by rotary evaporator, freeze dried and kept in refrigerator for further examination.
The study was conducted on albino Wister rats of both sex (140 - 200 gm.) obtained from the animals house of ICCBS, University of Karachi. All the animals were kept at the animal house of Department of Pharmacology, University of Karachi, in plastic cages with 12-h light/dark cycle at 22˚C ± 2˚C and 50% - 60% humidity for a period of one week before the start of experiment. Animals were fed standard diet and water regularly and were handled according to the guidelines of National Institute of Health for care and use of animals [
Diuretic activity was examined using Lipschitz method. Animals were randomly divided into five groups designated as negative control, positive control and three treated groups each comprising of 6 animals. Animals were deprived of food and water for 15 hours then given normal saline by mouth in a dose of 25 ml/kg before administration of vehicle, standard drug and herbal extract, to enforce water balance and salt load. After administration of standard and treated drugs all animals were separately placed in especially designed metabolic cages for collection of urine. Animals were given food and water ad libitum during the total period of experiment.
Single dose response of the vehicle, standard drug and herbal extract at three doses was examined in animal groups pre-treated with normal saline. Negative control group received only 10% DMSO. Positive control group was given furosemide (20 mg/kg) and treated groups received 150, 300 and 500 mg/kg of C. jwarancusa extract. Drugs and vehicle were given in the equivalent volume to all animals once a day. Urine volume was measured continuously every hour up to five hours and then after 24 hours.
Protocol for multiple-dose was same as that for single dose, except that test and standard drugs were administered daily in the same dose for five days. Urine volume was measured daily for 5 days at an interval of 24 hours. However readings on 5th day demonstrated cumulative result of urine volume from day 1 to 5.
Diuretic index and Lipschitz value were determined by following formulas [
Diuretic index = U V t / U V c
Lipschitz value = U V r / U V c
where, UVt is mean urine volume of test group. UVr is mean urine volume of reference group. UVc is mean urine volume of control group.
All statistical calculation were performed by SPSS version 20 and values are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. For comparison studies one way ANOVA was used, followed by post hoc (Dunnett’s test). Values of p < 0.05 were considered as significant diuretic and values of p < 0.001 as highly significant diuretic. All graphical data interpreted by Microsoft excel.
1) Effect on urine volume
2) Effect on diuretic index and Lipschitz value
Lipschitz values of C. jwarancusa extract at 150, 300 and 500 mg/kg were 41%, 56% and 61% after single dose and 72%, 80% and 90% after multiple doses as compared to furosemide.
Plants play very beneficial role in human life; not only provides nutritional benefits but also has medicinal value. In recent time’s medicinal plant has been targeted to be used as drug for eradicating variety of diseases. According to WHO
Treatment | Urine volume (ml) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 hr | 2 hr | 3 hr | 4 hr | 5 hr | 24 hr | 2nd day | 3rd day | 4th day | 5th day | |
10% DMSO | 0.56 ± 0.15 | 1.41 ± 0.27 | 2.20 ± 0.37 | 2.85 ±0.41 | 3.45 ± 0.37 | 6.40 ± 0.94 | 9.08 ± 1.33 | 11.68 ± 1.24 | 16.30 ± 1.63 | 22.31 ± 1.55 |
Furosemide 20 mg/kg | 4.25 ± 0.28** | 5.96 ± 0.16** | 6.28 ± 0.24** | 7.61 ± 0.23** | 8.25 ± 0.12** | 15.51 ± 0.48** | 26.18 ± 2.94** | 29.93 ± 3.28** | 32.71 ± 3.16** | 37.56 ± 3.36** |
C. jwarancusa 150 mg/kg | 0.62 ± 0.14 | 1.40 ± 0.20 | 2.33 ± 0.16 | 2.95 ± 0.26 | 3.40 ± 0.26 | 6.41 ± 0.46 | 11.73 ± 0.84 | 16.08 ± 1.33 | 21.08 ± 0.88 | 27.23 ± 0.94 |
C. jwarancusa 300 mg/kg | 0.95 ± 0.15 | 1.88 ± 0.35 | 2.85 ± 0.47 | 3.6 ± 0.51 | 4.23 ± 0.49 | 8.75 ± 0.77 | 14.55 ± 1.57 | 20.75 ± 2.08* | 26.66 ± 1.72* | 30.33 ± 1.94 |
C. jwarancusa 500 mg/kg | 1.36 ± 0.2* | 2.71 ± 0.37* | 3.66 ± 0.20* | 5.13 ± 0.75* | 5.75 ± 0.72* | 9.51 ± 1.31* | 17.91 ± 1.99* | 26.16 ± 2.95* | 30.25 ± 3.09* | 34.0 ± 3.14* |
n = 6; Values are mean ± S.E.M; Significant diuretic if p < *0.05; Highly significant diuretic if p < **0.001.
Groups | Dose mg/kg | Diuretic Index | Lipschitz Value | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single Dose | Multiple Dose | Single Dose | Multiple Dose | ||
10% DMSO | - | - | - | - | - |
Furosemide | 20 | 2.42 | 1.68 | - | - |
C. jwarancusa 1 | 150 | 1 | 1.22 | 0.41 | 0.72 |
C. jwarancusa 2 | 300 | 1.36 | 1.35 | 0.56 | 0.80 |
C. jwarancusa 3 | 500 | 1.48 | 1.52 | 0.61 | 0.90 |
almost one million people are dependent on herbal medicines for primary treatment of ailments and 21,000 herbal plants from all over the world have listed for possessing the medicinal properties [
In this study different strengths of ethanol extract of C. jwarancusa were used to investigate diuretic activity, while furosemide was used as reference drug to compare the response of test drug. C. jwarancusa at 500 mg/kg showed significant diuretic effect after single and multiple doses, while 300 mg/kg extract displayed significant diuretic response only on 3rd and 4th day as compared to control, on basis of these findings it may be concluded that C. jwarancusa extract has dose-dependent diuretic response.
Terpenoids present in C. jwarancusa have been reported to have diuretic activity. Terpenoids prevent the actions of aldosterone by binding to A1 receptor, thus causing diuresis [
Previously other species of Cymbopogon were also reported to have a diuretic response. C. citratus leaf decoction showed mild diuretic effects in rats at 10% and 20% [
Patel [
Authors are thankful to Department of Pharmacology, University of Karachi for providing facilities to complete this piece of work.
Khan, S.J., Afroz, S. and Khan, R.A. (2018) Diuretic Effect of Cymbopogon jwarancusa after Single and Multiple Doses in Rats. Pharmacology & Pharmacy, 9, 250-256. https://doi.org/10.4236/pp.2018.97019