Ethnopharmacological approaches to kidney disease-prospecting an indigenous species from Brazilian Pantanal

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2018-01, Vol.211, p.47-57
• Main Authors: Tirloni, Cleide Adriane Signor, Palozi, Rhanany Alan Calloi, Tomazetto, Thainá de Almeida, Vasconcelos, Paulo César de Paula, Souza, Roosevelt Isaias Carvalho, dos Santos, Ariany Carvalho, de Almeida, Valter Paes, Budel, Jane Manfron, de Souza, Lauro Mera, Gasparotto Junior, Arquimedes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents - toxicity; Antioxidant; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - toxicity; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Brazil; Diuretic; Diuretics - pharmacology; Diuretics - toxicity; Ethnopharmacology; Female; Hypotensive; Kidney Diseases; Luehea divaricata; Male; Malvaceae; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - blood; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Plant Leaves; Rats, Wistar; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Toxicity Tests, Acute
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.09.020

Although Luehea divaricata Mart. (Malvaceae) is popularly used by the population of the Brazilian Pantanal for the treatment of different types of kidney diseases, no study has been carried out to prove this ethnobotanical indication. To investigate the possible cardiorenal effects of an herbal preparation obtained from L. divaricata leaves. First, to provide quality control standards, a detailed morphological and microchemical characterization of L. divaricata leaves was performed. Then, the purified aqueous extract was obtained from the leaves of this species (ESLD) and a thorough phytochemical characterization was performed. Subsequently, acute oral toxicity test was performed after single administration of different doses (5, 50, 300, 2000mg/kg) in male and female Wistar rats. Finally, the diuretic, hypotensive and antioxidant properties of ESLD (30, 100, 300mg/kg) were evaluated after acute and prolonged treatment and the role of angiotensin converting enzyme, aldosterone, vasopressin, and nitric oxide in these effects was investigated. Analyses performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry showed that the main secondary metabolites present in ESLD were flavonol O-glycosides and flavone C-glycosides. Acute and prolonged treatment with ESLD was able to expressively increase urinary volume and electrolyte excretion. Mean blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were also significantly reduced after acute treatment. Moreover, treatment with ESLD was able to reduce thiobarbituric acid reactive species and increase serum nitrate levels. The data obtained showed that ESLD has an important diuretic and hypotensive effect, which is probably dependent on the reduction of oxidative stress and increased bioavailability of nitric oxide. [Display omitted]