Diuretic activity of some Smilax canariensis fractions

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2012-03, Vol.140 (2), p.277-281
• Main Authors: Abdala, S., Martín-Herrera, D., Benjumea, D., Gutiérrez, S. Dévora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Diuresis - drug effects; Diuretic activity; Diuretics - pharmacology; Folk medicine; Furosemide - pharmacology; Hydrochlorothiazide - pharmacology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ions - urine; Male; Medicinal plant; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; Plant Stems; Rhizome; Smilax - chemistry; Smilax canariensis; Sodium Chloride - urine; Spain; Urinary excretion; Urination - drug effects
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.017

Smilax canariensis is an endemic species of the Canary Islands, popularly known as “Zarzaparrilla sin espinas”. The rhizome, leaves and stem of this species has wide use in folk medicine practice on the islands, where they are habitually employed as diuretic. In this paper we report on the diuretic activity in experimental animals of several fractions of the methanol extract of this species. Four fractions of the methanol extract of the rhizomes, leaves and stem of Smilax canariensis (50 and 100mg/kg), Furosemide and Hydrochlorotiazide (10mg/kg), were orally administered to laboratory animals to evaluate their diuretic activity. Water excretion rate, pH, conductivity, and content of Na+, K+ and Cl− were measured in the urine of saline-loaded mice. All the studied extracts showed an interesting increase of the diuresis, although the n-buthanol (27%; p