ABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Siddha medicine literature claims that the Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (family: Amaranthaceae) whole plant possesses diuretic property. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the diuretic potential of Amaranthus spinosus aqueous extract (ASAE) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Different concentrations of ASAE (200, 500, 1000, 1500mg/kg), thiazide (10mg/kg) and vehicle were orally administered to rats (n=6 animals per group) and their urine output was collected after 24h. Volume, pH, Na(+), K(+) and Cl(-) concentrations of urine were estimated. RESULTS: ASAE produced increase in Na(+), K(+), Cl(-) excretion, caused alkalinization of urine, showed strong saluretic activity and carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity. These effects were observed predominantly at 500mg/kg dose and there was no dose-response relationship. CONCLUSION: Our study strongly suggests that the Amaranthus spinosus is acting as a thiazide like diuretic with carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity which restates the claim as diuretic herb in Siddha medicine.
Subject(s)
Amaranthus , Diuretics/pharmacology , Ions/urine , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Urination/drug effects , Animals , Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism , Chlorides/urine , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration/drug effects , Male , Medicine, Traditional , Potassium/urine , Rats , Sodium/urine , Thiazides/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The existence of oxidative stress in uremia is well proved but the relative importance of uremic status versus the role of free iron in exacerbating oxidative stress in patients with uremia is not been clarified. Serum creatinine, free iron both in ferrous and ferric state, protein thiols, lipid hydroperoxides levels were estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The study groups comprised of patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative management, on hemodialysis with and without iron supplementation, and compared with healthy controls. Free iron levels were higher in patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative management, hemodialysis patients with and without iron supplementation. Hemodialysis cases with iron supplementation had significantly higher free iron levels as compared to hemodialysis cases without iron supplementation. The levels of lipid hydroperoxides were higher and protein thiols were lower in patient groups. Creatinine correlated positively with free iron and lipid hydroperoxides, and negatively with protein thiols. In conclusion, uremia per se may be responsible for enhanced oxidative stress in patients with chronic kidney disease.