Diuretic Activity of Phytochemicals in Rodent Models
Summary
The exploration of plant-derived compounds with diuretic properties has intensified in recent years, driven by the need for alternatives to synthetic agents in the management of fluid overload and hypertension. Rodent models serve as a controlled platform to evaluate both efficacy and safety, enabling detailed assessment of urine output, electrolyte balance and renal function markers. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids and saponins exert diuretic effects via multiple mechanisms: modulation of renal tubular transporters, alteration of glomerular filtration and interaction with hormone-mediated pathways. Standardised extracts allow comparison against clinical diuretics – for example, loop and thiazide agents – and help to identify active constituents, optimal harvest stages and dose–response relationships. Collectively, these studies underscore the potential of botanicals not only to enhance urinary fluid elimination but also to ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in renal tissue, paving the way for phytotherapy in cardiovascular and renal disorders.
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Diuretic Activity of Phytochemicals in Rodent Models publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in diuretic activity of phytochemicals in rodent models across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Diuretic: An agent that promotes increased urine production by the kidneys.
Phytochemical: A bioactive compound produced by plants, such as flavonoids or phenolic acids.
Osmolarity: A measure of solute concentration in urine, influencing water excretion.
Electrolyte excretion: The process by which ions (e.g., Na+, K+, Cl–) are eliminated in urine.
Normotensive: Referring to subjects with normal blood pressure, used here to assess hypotensive effects.
References
- Pharmacognostic Study, Diuretic Activity and Acute Oral Toxicity of the Leaves of Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl. Collected in Two Different Phenological Stages. Plants (2023).
- Diuretic and antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of leaves of Vepris heterophylla (Engl.) R. Let (Rutaceae) in rats. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2016).
- Involvement of Muscarinic Receptors in Hypotensive and Diuretic Effects of Aqueous Soluble Fraction from Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2021).
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