Diuretic activity of the roots of Flacourtia indica

Plan:Thepresent study was carried out to investigate the diuretic activity of theethanolic extract of roots of Flacourtia indica (Flacourtiaceae).Prologue: It is a populardrug used to treat many diseases in Indian traditional medicine. In order to substantiate the traditional uses of thedrug the scientific study of diuretic activity was undertaken by us.Methodology: Air dried; powdered roots of Flacourtia indica weredefatted with petroleum ether first and subsequently extracted with 90% alcohol.Thepreliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract revealed thepresence of carbohydrates, tannins, phenolic compounds and terpenoids. Thediuretic activity of ethanolic extract was evaluated by determining the urinevolume and electrolyte concentration in albino rats. Frusemide (10 mg/kg) wasused as standard while normal saline (0.9%) was used as control. Ethanolicextract of the drug (250 mg/kg and 500mg/kg) were used as tests.Outcome: Theethanolic extract (500 mg/kg) showed significant increase in urine volume aswell as Na+, K+and Cl- ion concentration in albino rats.