Pharmacological Screening of Bambusa vulgaris and Cocos nucifera Root Extracts for Their Potential Diuretic Activity.

Cocos nucifera (Palmae) and Bambusa vulgaris (Gramineae) are used in Indian traditional medicine system as diuretics. However so far no scientific study revealed their diuretic potential. Therefore present study was undertaken to evaluate diuretic potential of aqueous extract of roots of Cocos nucifera and Bambusa vulgaris in albino rats. Preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous extracts of both plants was carried out to determine the nature of phytoconstituents present in it. Acute toxicity of the both extracts was determined using wistar rats. The method described by Lipschtiz et al and Kavimani et al, was employed for the evaluation of diuretic activity. Different parameters viz. total urine volume, urine pH, urine concentration of electrolytes such as Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio and diuretic index have been evaluated. Each extract was evaluated at 3 different doses as 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg B.W. of rat. Aqueous extract of C.nucifera roots exhibited dose dependent increase in the total urine volume and excretion of electrolytes. On the other hand, no significant diuretic activity was observed with aqueous extract of B.vulgaris roots. The diuretic potential of C.nucifera roots extract was statistically significant (p< 0.05) at dose 300mg/kg and comparable to that of the standard drug furosemide (20mg/kg i.p.).