Evaluation of Diuretic Activity and Phytochemical Contents of Aqueous Extract of the Shoot Apex of Podocarpus falcactus

Figures & data

Figure 1 Effect of aqueous extract of Podocarpus falcactus shoot apex on the first urinary latency of rats.

Notes: Each value represents mean ± S.E.M; n=6.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; F10, furosemide 10 mg/kg; AQ100, aqueous extract 100 mg/kg; AQ200, aqueous extract 200 mg/kg; AQ400, aqueous extract 400 mg/kg.

Table 1 Effect of Aqueous Extract of Podocarpus Falcactus Shoot Apex on Urine Volume in Rats

Group	Volume of Urine (mL)					% Urinary Excretion	Diuretic Action	Diuretic Activity
	1 h	2 h	3 h	4 h	5 h
DW	1.54 ± 0.22	2.04 ± 0.10	2.46 ± 0.03	2.82 ± 0.18	3.01 ± 0.17	44	1.00
F10	3.02 ± 0.29^a###	4.07 ± 0.14^a###	5.65 ± 0.34^a###	6.67 ± 0.25^a###	7.03 ± 0.23^a###	102	2.34	1.00
AQ100	1.48 ± 0.15^b###,c#,d##	2.42 ± 0.07^b###,c###,d###	3.20 ± 0.16 ^b###,c###,d###	3.80 ± 0.19^a#,b###,c###,d###	4.80 ± 0.29^a###,b###,d###	69	1.59	0.68
AQ200	2.40 ± 0.20^a#	3.60 ± 0.19^a###	5.20 ± 0.16^a###	6.20 ± 0.18^a###	6.62 ± 0.16^a###	96	2.20	0.94
AQ400	2.74 ± 0.13^a##	3.82 ± 0.16^a###	5.81 ± 0.40^a###	6.63 ± 0.32^a###	6.96 ± 0.30^a###	100	2.31	0.99

Notes: Each value represents mean ± S.E.M; n=6; ^aAgainst negative control (DW); ^bAgainst standard (F10); ^cAgainst 200 mg/kg; ^dAgainst 400 mg/kg; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; F10, furosemide 10 mg/kg; AQ100, aqueous extract 100 mg/kg; AQ200, aqueous extract 200 mg/kg; AQ400, aqueous extract 400 mg/kg.

Figure 2 Effect of aqueous extract of Podocarpus falcactus shoot apex on cumulative urine output in rats.

Notes: Each value represents mean ± S.E.M; n=6.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; F10, furosemide 10 mg/kg; AQ100, aqueous extract 100 mg/kg; AQ200, aqueous extract 200 mg/kg; AQ400, aqueous extract 400 mg/kg.

Table 2 Effect of Aqueous Extract of Podocarpus Falcactus Shoot Apex on Urinary Electrolyte Excretion in Rats

Group	Urinary Electrolyte Concentration (mMol/L)			Saluretic Index			Na^+/K^+	Cl^−/(Na^+ + K^+)
	Na^+	K^+	Cl^−	Na^+	K^+	Cl^−
DW	66.20 ± 4.01	45.00 ± 3.91	91.10 ± 4.65				1.47	0.81
F10	148.17 ± 2.79^a###	100.00 ± 3.81^a###	129.50 ± 8.82^a##	2.24	2.22	1.42	1.48	0.52
AQ100	96.00 ± 2.85^a###,b###,c###,d###	58.50 ± 1.98^b###,d###	111.11 ± 5.20	1.45	1.30	1.22	1.64	0.72
AQ200	128.20 ± 4.49^a###,b#	69.67 ± 3.58^a###,b###	122.60 ± 5.45^a#	1.94	1.55	1.35	1.84	0.62
AQ400	144.00 ± 4.89^a###	88.00 ± 3.83^a###	134.56 ± 7.22^a###	2.18	1.96	1.48	1.64	0.58

Notes: Each value represents mean ± S.E.M; n=6; ^aAgainst negative control (DW); ^bAgainst standard (F10); ^cAgainst 200 mg/kg; ^dAgainst 400 mg/kg; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01, ^###p < 0.001.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; F10, furosemide 10 mg/kg; AQ100, aqueous extract 100 mg/kg; AQ200, aqueous extract 200 mg/kg; AQ400, aqueous extract 400 mg/kg.

Figure 3 Effect of aqueous extract of Podocarpus falcactus shoot apex on urine pH of rats.

Notes: Each value represents mean ± S.E.M; n=6.

Abbreviations: DW, distilled water; F10, furosemide 10 mg/kg; AQ100, aqueous extract 100 mg/kg; AQ200, aqueous extract 200 mg/kg; AQ400, aqueous extract 400 mg/kg.

Table 3 Phytochemical Screening of Aqueous Extract of Podocarpus Falcactus Shoot Apex

Phytochemical	Test Method	Observation	Result
Alkaloids	Bouchardat	Brown precipitate was formed	Presence of alkaloids confirmed
	Dragendorff	Red-orange precipitate was formed	Presence of alkaloids confirmed
	Mayer	Yellowish-white precipitate was formed	Presence of alkaloids confirmed
	Wagner	A red-brown precipitate was formed	Presence of alkaloids confirmed
Anthraquinone Glycosides	Borntrager’s test	Red color was not occurred	Absence of anthraquinone glycosides
	Ammonium hydroxide test	Pink-red color was not formed	Absence of anthraquinone glycosides
Cardiac Glycosides	Keller-Kiliani test	No formation of brown-ring between layers	Absence of cardiac glycosides
Flavonoids	Alkaline reagent test	Yellow fluorescence was present	Presence of flavonoids
	Shinoda test	Red-pink color was formed	Presence of flavonoids
Polyphenols	Lead acetate test	A bulky white precipitate was formed	Presence of polyphenols
	Ferric chloride test	Blue-green color was formed	Presence of polyphenols
Saponins	Frothing test	A stable persistent froth was not formed	Absence of saponins
Steroids	Libermann-Buchard test	No formation of brown ring at the interface	Absence of steroids
Tannins	Ferric chloride test	Blue or purple or green precipitate was formed	Presence of tannins
Terpenoids	Salkowski test	A reddish-brown precipitate was not formed	Absence of terpenoids