Abstract

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF FICUS EXASPERATA VAHL. AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT AND SPIRONOLACTONE ON URINARY EXCRETIONS IN NORMOTENSIVE RATS

Augustin K. Amonkan, Marie L.B. Ahui, André B. Konan*, Léandre K. Kouakou, Mathieu N. Bléyéré, Marcel G. K. Bouafou, Séraphin Kati-Coulibaly

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants known diuretics are commonly used to treat hypertension and edema. Ficus exasperata aqueous leaf extract (FEFIX) lowers blood pressure in a dose-dependent. This extract had a relatively large and higher diuretic and electrolyte effect than that induced by a loop diuretic. The effectiveness of diuretics was based on their site of action in the nephron. The aim of this work was to compare the effects of FEFIX to those of spironolactone (SPLT), aldosterone antagonist, in normal rats. Single doses of FEFIX (100 mg/kg b.w.) and SPLT (10 mg/kg b.w.) were orally administered to two groups of rats. A control group received NaCl (9 ‰). The urine was collected and sampled every two hours for 24 hours. Blood was drawn at the end of the experiment. Levels of electrolytes (Na, K, Cl and Ca 2), urea and creatinine were measured in urine and serum. FEFIX and SPLT increased urine volume and urinary excretion of sodium and chlorine. Both substances studied decreased serum sodium and serum chloride. FEFIX increased the urinary excretion of creatinine and urea without significantly altering their plasma concentration. The conclusion of this work is that the aqueous extract of F. exasperata leaves had a relatively high diuretic activity. This extract changed the plasma levels of electrolytes like SPLT after 24 hours.

Keywords: Urinary excretion, Electrolytes, Ficus exasperata, Spironolactone.