| Title | Evaluation of the diuretic and analgesic activities of the rhizomes of Rumex abyssinicus Jacq in mice. | | Author(s) | Mekonnen T, Urga K, Engidawork E | | Institution | Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. | | Source | J Ethnopharmacol 2009 Oct 22. | | Abstract | AIM OF THE STUDY: Rumex abyssinicus Jacq (Polygonaceae) has been used traditionally for treatment of hypertension, inflammatory and painful conditions in Ethiopia. The present study aimed to evaluate the diuretic and analgesic activities of extracts of R. abyssinicus at different doses in mice.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effect on urine volume and urinary electrolyte (Na(+), K(+) and Cl(-)) was assessed for a period of 5h following oral administration of aqueous (500mg/kg, 750mg/kg or 1000mg/kg) or 80% methanolic (250mg/kg, 500mg/kg or 750mg/kg) extract or furosemide (10mg/kg). Acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate tests were employed to study the analgesic effect of 80% methanolic extracts (250mg/kg, 500mg/kg or 1000mg/kg, p.o) and compared with that of aspirin (100mg/kg, po) or morphine (10mg/kg, sc).
RESULTS: The extracts displayed dose-dependent diuretic and analgesic effects. The highest doses of both extracts markedly and significantly increased (P<0.001) urine volume and urinary electrolytes, qualitatively similar to that of furosemide. 1000mg/kg of the extract reduced the number of writhing by 67.6% (P<0.001) and conferred more than 70% protection against thermally-induced pain stimuli after 45min of treatment comparable to that of aspirin and morphine, respectively.
CONCLUSION: These findings collectively indicate that the extracts exhibited significant diuretic and analgesic activities, providing evidence, at least in part, for its folkloric use. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19854258 |
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