EFFECT OF CRUDE EXTRACT OF ROOTS OF BREDEMEYERA-FLORIBUNDA WILLD .3. EFFECT ON HORMONE-STIMULATED WATER TRANSPORT IN ISOLATED FROG-SKIN

The diuretic activity of the crude extract of roots of Bredemeyera flo ribunda Willd. (Polygalaceae) was investigated on basal and hormone-st imulated absorptive water transport in the isolated frog skin. The ext ract, added to the mucosal skin surface, at the peak of oxytocin (Oxy) action induces steady and dose-dependent reduction of water transport . Pre-treatment of the skins during 2 h with the extract, added to muc osal skin surface, renders the epithelium nonresponsive to oxytocin. T hese effects are not observed when the extract is added to the serosal skin surface. Basal water transport is not altered by the extract. Th e results, apart from indicating inhibition of the oxytocin-stimulated water transport in frog skin epithelium, support the folk therapeutic use of infusion of the root extract as a diuretic.