PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND DIURETIC EFFECTS OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA HIRTA (EUPHORBIACEAE) LEAVES IN WISTAR RATS

Adja Christ Rodrigue BELI, Dr. Kacou Jules Marius DJETOUAN*, Kouao Augustin AMONKAN, Ama Dénis-Marcel ASSI, Jeanne Akoua KANGA and Appy Simone ABE

ABSTRACT

Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of number of pathologies, in particular hypertension. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the biotolerance and diuretic effect of an aqueous extract of Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbiaceae) leaves on wistar rat. The acute toxicity study was conducted according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 423) guideline. In this study, MFEH was administered from 1000 mg/kg bw, 2000 mg/kg bw and followed by 5000 mg/kg bw. Rats were observed for toxic signs at 24 h and the next 14 days. For the MFEH diuretic effect, water-overloaded rats were treated separately (n=6) with increasing doses (100 to 600 mg/kg bw) of Euphorbia hirta aqueous extracts (MFEH), Furosemide (Furo) and Hydrochlorothiazide at 10 mg/kg bw. Blood sample of each rat and excreted urine was collected (measured for 24 hours) for various biochemical analyses. MFEH at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg bw showed no lethal effects. MFEH exhibits superior urinary excretion kinetics than that induced by Furosemide and Hydrochlorothiazide. These findings are in agreement with the traditional claim for use Euphorbia hirta leaves as diuretic agent.

Keywords: Euphorbia hirta; Urine; Electrolyte; Furosemide; Hydrochlorotiazide, edema.