Lack of diuretic activity of hot water extract of whole plant of Amaranthus viridis L. in rats

Abstract

Objective: To assess the diuretic potential of hot water extract (HWE) of a whole plant
of Amaranthus viridis L. Materials and Methods: Different doses (25, 50, and 100 mg
/ kg) of HWE of the whole plant of A. viridis or vehicle or furosemide, reference drug,
was orally administered to hydrated rats (n = six / group) and their cumulative urine
output was monitored at hourly intervals for five hours. Result: The HWE of A.viridis
does not possess significant (P > 0.05) diuretic activity. Conclusion: The HWE of
the whole plant of A. viridis did not possess diuretic activity in rats, as was claimed in
traditional and folkloric medicine.