Evaluation of diuretic activity of Lagenaria Siceraria in Albino rats

Lagenaria siceraria belongs to Cucurbitaceae family. It is commonly known as lauki (Hindi) and bottle gourd (English) is a medicinal plant. It is used as medicine for its cardio tonic, general tonic and diuretic properties. The present study was aimed to evaluate the diuretic activity of Lagenaria siceraria in comparison to Hydrochlorothiazide. 5 groups of rats with 6 rats in each group were taken.1st group of 6 rats was kept as control. 2nd group of 6 rats were fed with standard hydrochlorothiazide. The Third, fourth and fifth groups of 6 rats each were taken as test groups and administered with the crude extract of LAGENARIA SICERARIA in doses of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight. The urine was collected for a period of 5 hours and 24 hours. Urinary volume, urinary electrolytes namely sodium, potassium and chloride are estimated. The results obtained in the study indicate that Aqueous Extract of Lagenaria siceraria(AELS) increases the excretion of 3 parameters i.e. urinary volume, urinary Na+, urinary Cl- which is statistically significant and comparable to that of the standard diuretic agent hydrochlorothiazide and decrease K+excreation.