Acute and chronic diuretic effect of ethanolic extract of leaves of Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diles in normal rats.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic diuretic effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diles. METHODS: The ethanolic extract was administered (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) in Wistar rats. In the acute study, rats received drugs orally and urine was collected after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h. The chronic study involved repeated administration of ethanolic extract for 28 days and urine was collected on day 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The parameters were total urine volume, concentration of Na+, K+ and Cl- ions, creatinine in urine and serum. Urine output, electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl- ions) and creatinine were determined on day 7, 14, 21 and 28. KEY FINDINGS: The highest dose (400 mg/kg) of the ethanolic extract significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced urine output. Excretion of cations (Na+ and K+ ions) and anions (Cl- ions) increased significantly with respect to the control (gum acacia 2% dissolved in saline, 10 ml/kg) group. The increase of cations in the urine after treatment with ethanolic extract was dose dependent. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. hirsutus (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and furosemide (10 mg/kg) did not significantly change the concentration of Na+, K+ and Cl- ions in serum. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. hirsutus (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and furosemide (10 mg/kg) increased the excretion of creatinine in urine but with a corresponding decrease in serum. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. hirsutus (400 mg/kg) had significant diuretic effect in rats.

Interaction of Aqueous Extract of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel-Champ. with Glyburide in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice.

Mushrooms are low calorie food with very little fat and are highly suitable for obese persons. With no starch and very low sugars, they are the 'delight of the diabetics'. Combination of herbal drugs (or isolated phytochemicals) is found to be beneficial in certain diseases when given along with conventional drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Lentinaceae) (called as PP-aqu) and its interaction with glyburide in alloxan induced diabetic mice. The diabetic mice treated were with PP-aqu (500 mg/kg, p.o.) alone or combination with glyburide (10 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. Blood samples were collected by orbital sinus puncture using heparinized capillary glass tubes and were analyzed for serum glucose on 0, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days. Body weights and mortality were noted during the study period. In oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glucose (2.5 g/kg, p.o.) was administered with either vehicle, PP-aqu alone or in combination with glyburide and serum glucose level analyzed at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min after drug administration. Administration of PP-aqu (500 mg/kg) and its combination with glyburide (10 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.001) decreased serum glucose level in diabetic mice. In OGTT, glyburide or PP-aqu treatment alone or their combination produced significant (P < 0.001) increase in glucose threshold. Thus we suggest that P. pulmonarius showed potent and synergistic antihyperglycemic effect in combination with glyburide.