Evaluation of Diuretic Activity of Aqueous and Methanol Extracts of Lepidium sativum Garden Cress (Cruciferae) in Rats

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to investigate diuretic effect of aqueous and methanol extracts of the dried seeds of Lepidium sativum in normal rats. Method: Aqueous and methanol extracts of L. sativum seeds were administered to experimental rats orally at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o. Hydrochlorothiazide (10 mg/kg) was used as positive control in study. The diuretic effect of the extracts was evaluated by measuring urine volume, sodium and potassium content, conductivity and pH. Result: Urine volume was significantly increased by the two doses of aqueous and methanol extracts in comparison to control group. While the excretion of sodium was also increased by both extracts, potassium excretion was only increased by the aqueous extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg. There was no significant change in the conductivity and pH of urine after administration of the L. sativum extracts. The diuretic effect of the extracts was comparable to that of the reference standard (hydrochlorothiazide) and the methanol had the additional advantage of a potassium-conserving effect. Conclusion: We can conclude that aqueous and methanol extracts of L. sativum produced notable diuretic effect which appeared to be comparable to that produced by the reference diuretic HCTZ. The present study provides a quantitative basis for explaining the folkloric use of L. sativum as a diuretic agent in Moroccan population.