Natriuretic and diuretic effects of Tropaeolum majus (Tropaeolaceae) in rats

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 122; no. 3; pp. 517 - 522
• Main Authors: Gasparotto, Arquimedes, Boffo, Marcos Aurelio, Lourenço, Emerson Luiz Botelho, Stefanello, Maria Elida Alves, Kassuya, Cândida Aparecida Leite, Marques, Maria Consuelo Andrade
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 21-04-2009; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; creatinine; Creatinine - blood; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - pharmacology; diuresis; Diuretic activity; diuretics; Diuretics - administration & dosage; Diuretics - pharmacology; dose response; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; electrolytes; Electrolytes - urine; Furosemide - pharmacology; General pharmacology; Humans; indomethacin; Indomethacin - pharmacology; Male; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; oral administration; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; prostaglandins; Prostaglandins - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; sodium; Sodium - urine; Time Factors; toxicity; traditional medicine; Tropaeolaceae; Tropaeolum; Tropaeolum majus; Tropaeolum majus L; urea; Urea - blood; urination; Urination - drug effects; Urine output; Brazil; Diuretic activity; Tropaeolum majus L; Tropaeolaceae; Urine output; Urine; Biological fluid; Rat; Pharmacognosy; Tropaeolum majus; Rodentia; Ornamental crop; Medicinal plant; Diuretic; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Dicotyledones; Animal; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.01.021

Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae), popularly known as “chaguinha”, is well recognized in Brazilian traditional medicine as diuretic agent, although no scientific data have been published to support this effect.
To evaluate the diuretic activity of the infusion and the hydroethanolic extract (HETM) of
Tropaeolum majus, and possible mechanism of action.
The infusions (2,5 – 10%) and the HETM doses (150, 300
mg/kg) were orally administered to rats. Urinary excretion, the electrolytes levels, and urea and creatinine were measured in of saline-loaded rats.
The oral administration of 10% (corresponding to 500
mg/kg) of the infusion increased significantly the urinary Na
+ excretion. Only the oral administration of 300
mg/kg of HETM increased significantly the urinary and Na
+ excretion. Prolonged administration of the HETM (300
mg/kg) significantly increased diuresis and the urinary excretion of Na
+, but others parameters were unaffected. To gain some evidence in possible involvement of prostaglandins system in diuretic action, the oral administration of HETM (300
mg/kg) in association indomethacin (5
mg/kg) reduced the urinary and sodium excretion when compared only HETM group.
The results suggest that HETM could present compound(s) responsible for diuretic activities with no signs of toxicity, and the mechanism could involve prostaglandin system.