Pharmacognostical and pharmacological evaluation of Andrographis paniculata for diuretic activity

Abstract

The effect of ethanol and methanol fractions of Andrographis paniculata was found to be highly potent comparison was made with the standard diuretic reference drug furosemide. But the diuretic effect observed with TEEF show the least levels of cl- output hence it show less potent diuretic action and TEEAF show moderate potent action with elimination of Cl, Na and urine volume. Determination of urinary electrolyte concentration revealed that Ethanol and methanol extracts of both plants was most effective in increasing urinary electrolyte concentration for all three tested ions (Na, K, Cl-) While Ethyl acetate extract of Andrographis paniculata did not shown significant increase in either urinary volume or electrolyte concentration. The fractions Ethanol and methanol fractions of Andrographis paniculata significantly increases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), it may be due to interactions of structural components of glomerular membranes as detergent and reduce the resistance of the direct effect on the arteriole wall affecting glomerular blood flow or efferent arteriole. These research results have concluded that the pharmacological evidence for the folklore claim of the plants fractions to be used as diuretic agents. On the basis of these findings, it may be inferred that seeds of Andrographis paniculata are diuretic agent due to the presence of flavonoids and poly phenols. The results are in agreement with the traditional use of the plants are diuretic agents.