Evaluation of acute administration of natural products with potential diuretic effects, in humans

• Autor(a) principal: Laranja, Sandra Maria Rodrigues [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 1991
• Outros Autores: Bergamaschi, Cassia Toledo [UNIFESP], Schor, Nestor [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02761991000600053; http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/273
• topic: Natural products; diuretics; Elephantopus scaber; Alpinia speciosa

In order to evaluate the potential diuretic effect of two natural products, Elephantopus scaber and Alpinia speciosa, a trial administration was carried out in ten healthy volunteers and the effects compared to the those of a placebo. The substances were given on different days, with a seven day interval between doses. The amount of substance administered to the subjects was five times the usual dose i.e. 7.5 g/100 ml and 0.8 g/100 ml respectively. The following parameters parameteres were measured: urinary and plasma sodium, potassium, uric acid, calcium, phosphate, urea, creatinine. The subjects were also examined clinically and total urinary volume was assessed. The only significant finding (p < 0.05) was a slight diuresis with Alpinia speciosa, which also lowered the diastolic (p < 0.05) and systolic (p < 0.01) blood pressures. No effect on electrolytes or renal function parameters was observed, and this probably excludes any renal tubular or glomerular effect from these substances.