Diuretic activity of whole plant extract of Leptadenia pyrotechnic

In the Indian traditional medicine, Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Apocynaceae) whole plant is claimed to possess powerful diuretic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diuretic potential of methanol extract of Leptadenia pyrotechnica (MELP) in male albino rats. Group I, Control (2% CMC saline solution, 10 ml/kg, b.w), Group II, serves as a standard drug furosemide (10 mg/kg b.w) and different concentrations of LP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w) were intraperitoneally administered (n = 3 per each treatment group) to hydrated rats and their urine output was monitored over a period of 5 h after drug administration. The diuretic responses with its electrolyte excretion potency of the extract were highly remarkable in comparison with control animals. The MELP at dose of 400 mg/kg shows a significant increase in volume of urine with increase in Na+ excretion accompanied by the excretion of K+ in dose dependent manner. This study suggests that the active component in L.P. had similar diuretic effect to that of furosemide. These results validate the traditional use of Leptadenia pyrotechnica as a diuretic agent.