ANTIDIURETIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS BARK EXTRACT OF SRI LANKAN FICUS RACEMOSA IN RATS

Abstract

The decoction (D) o f the bark o f Fkiis ixicemosa Linn ( F a m i l y : Moraceae) is c l a i m e d as an antidiuretic by some Sri Lankan traditional practitioners. However, the v a l i d i t y o f this c l a im has not been s c i e n t i f i c a l l y proven or refuted. The a im o f this study was to evaluate the antidiuretic potential o f D o f the bark o f F. raccmosa (made as s p e c i f i ed in tradifional use) in rats u s i n g three doses (250, 500 o r 1000 mg/kg) f o l l o w i n g oral administration. T h e reference drug used was A D H . The results demonstrated both the ! o w - and high-doses o f D and A D H s i g n i f i c a n t l y impaired the total urine output. T h e D - i n d u c e d a n l i d i u r e s is had a r a p i d onset ( w i t h i n I h), peaked at 3 h a n d lasted throughout the study p e r i o d (5 h). I l o w c v e r , antidiuretic potential o f D was about 5 0 % lower than that o f A D I L The D was w e l l tolerated even w i t h subchronic administration. T h e D caused a reduction in u r i n a r y N a ' level and NaVK*" ratio, and an increase in urinary osmolarity indicating multiple mechanisms o f action. T h e results provide s c i e n t i f i c support for its c l a i m e d antidiuretic action and deserve intensive scrutiny.