Diuretic activity and acute oral toxicity study of ethanolic extract of leaves of Ficus benjamina L. in Wistar albino rats 

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to know the diuretic activity of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Ficus benjamina L. The diuretic activity of ethanolic extract of EEFB was tested at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. The diuretic activity was evaluated by various parameters such as volume of urine output, diuretic action, diuretic activity (Lipschitz value), concentration of urinary electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride), saluretic activity, natriuretic activity and carbonic anhydrase inhibition (CAI). The ethanolic extract of leaves of Ficus benjamina L. (EEFB) at 200 and 400 mg/kg showed a significant increase in urine output and also showed good diuretic action and diuretic activity (Lipschitz value) when compared with the control group in a dose-dependent manner. In concentration of urinary electrolytes the EEFB at the dose of 400 mg/kg showed a significant increase in Na+, K+, and Cl- and at 200 mg/kg showed significant activity only at urinary excretion of Cl-. In saluretic and natriuretic activity, the EEFB showed good effect at 400 mg/kg and EEFB at 200 mg/kg showed little saluretic activity but didn’t show natriuretic activity. EEFB did not exhibit any CAI activity.