Abstract:
In (he present study, len medicinal plants have been investigated for oral diuretic activity.
Detailed studies have also been carried out on the toxicity and possible mode of action of
Asparagus racemosns. An attempt has also been made to isolate the active components
responsible for diuresis from Asparagus rcicemosus.
The ability of five plants under investigation to increase the output of urine and urinary
electrolytes at varying degrees in Sprague Dawley rats confirms the presence of diuretic
agents in these plants. The magnitude of the diuretic effect varied with the dosage used and
the time of storage.
Investigations carried out with normal human volunteers revealed that the medicinal plant,
Asparagus racemosus was capable of improving the urine output and urinary output of
electrolytes. This plant induces diuresis possibly by preventing or abolishing renal tubular
rcabsorption of sodium ions in humans.
Investigations with Asparagus racemosus showed that the extracts of this plant had no
toxicological effects on the hislopathology of various body organs, liver function,
hematological parameters or on the reproductive ability of the experimental animals. The
general conditions of the animals also did not change and all the animals remained in good
health throughout the experimental period.
In the present investigation it was evident that diuretic activity of the crude extract of
Asparagus racemosus plant is mediated by a mixture of alkaloids and glycosides.
