Diuretic activity and toxicity of someVerbascum nigrumextracts and fractions

Abstract

Context: Verbascum nigrum L. (Scrophulariaceae) is a perennial plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of kidney diseases due to its presumable diuretic properties. Objective: We investigated the diuretic activity and toxicity of extracts from different parts of V. nigrum and identified a group of compounds responsible for the biological effect. Materials and methods: Five ethanol extracts from herb, roots, flowers, leaves and stems as well as five fractions of polar compounds isolated from herb of V. nigrum were orally administrated as a single dose of 50 mg/kg to rats. Urinary excretion and electrolyte content were measured at 3 and 6 h after the treatment. The acute toxicity of the V. nigrum extracts and fractions was evaluated in mice. Results: All extracts, except the one prepared from the roots, showed a significant increase of the urine output within first 3 h after their administration. The extract from stems was the most active, inducing urine output of 14.6 AE 0.8 ml/kg BW versus 5.2 AE 1.4 ml/kg BW of the control. It also demonstrated saluretic activity with a natriuretic index 4.1 and a kaliuretic index 3.8. The diuretic activity was correlated with the flavonoid content in the plant organs. Flavonoid fractions demonstrated significant activity; the higher content of flavonoids (expressed as hesperidin) translated into more pronounced diuretic (35.9 AE 2.1 ml/kg BW) and saluretic effects (natriuretic index 4.5 and kaliuretic index 5.4). Conclusion: The diuretic activity of traditionally used V. nigrum was validated experimentally. The pharmacological effect was attributed to flavonoids, which accumulated in aerial parts of the plant, mainly in stems.

Hypotensive, vaso-relaxant, cardio-depressant and diuretic effect of crude extract of <i>Crotalaria burhia</i> (Fabaceae)

“…The results of the diuretic effect of Cb.Cr are in agreement with its folklore Ayurvedic use as a diuretic and for chronic kidney pain [24]. It has been well established that the presence of various phytochemical constituents like organic acids, saponins and glycosides along with phenolic compounds contribute to the diuretic effect of the plant extracts [25]. The diuretic effect of Cb.Cr is comparable with the standard diuretic drug, furosemide, which may be due to phytochemical compounds present in Crotalaria burhia [8].…”

Verbascum nigrum: Cytotoxicity Evaluation in A431 Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells and Untargeted LC‐HR‐MS/MS Metabolite Profiling

“…Several extracts of black mullein were documented to possess anti-inflammatory, [6] anticoagulant, antihypotensive and diuretic effects. [4] These bioactivities might be correlated with the presence of iridoid glycosides (harpagoside, laterioside, aucubin, sinuatol, nigrosides I -V), phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside), flavonoids and saponin glycosides (ilwensisaponins A and C) as the main phytochemicals reported in the flowers, leaves or roots of V. nigrum. [5,7,8] Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer (20 % of keratinocyte carcinomas), is associated with a poor prognosis as it easily metastasizes.…”

“…[2,3] For instance, the aerial parts of Verbascum nigrum L. (dark mullein) are traditionally or homeopathically recommended in epilepsy, asthma, acute respiratory infections, gastralgia, diarrhea, dysentery or renal dysfunctions. [4,5] Regarding previous chemico-biological investigations on this species, the literature is considerably scarce. Several extracts of black mullein were documented to possess anti-inflammatory, [6] anticoagulant, antihypotensive and diuretic effects.…”

“…The roots, leaves and flowers collected from different species have been empirically used since Ancient times in the treatment of a wide range of human ailments [2,3] . For instance, the aerial parts of Verbascum nigrum L. (dark mullein) are traditionally or homeopathically recommended in epilepsy, asthma, acute respiratory infections, gastralgia, diarrhea, dysentery or renal dysfunctions [4,5] . Regarding previous chemico‐biological investigations on this species, the literature is considerably scarce.…”

“…Regarding previous chemico‐biological investigations on this species, the literature is considerably scarce. Several extracts of black mullein were documented to possess anti‐inflammatory, [6] anticoagulant, antihypotensive and diuretic effects [4] . These bioactivities might be correlated with the presence of iridoid glycosides (harpagoside, laterioside, aucubin, sinuatol, nigrosides I–V), phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside), flavonoids and saponin glycosides (ilwensisaponins A and C) as the main phytochemicals reported in the flowers, leaves or roots of V. nigrum [5,7,8] …”