Evaluation of unripe Mormodica charantia and Mormodica dioica fruit extracts for diuretic and antidiuretic effects in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diuretic and antidiuretic effects of fruit extracts of unripe Mormodica charantia Linn. and Mormodica dioica Roxb. (Family: Cucurbitaceae), using the hydrated rat assay technique and a randomized Latin square design. The freeze dried extracts suspended in 0. 5% polyvinylpyrrolidone in dose of 30-60 mg/kg or hydrochlorothiazide (diur etic, 30 mg/kg) or hydralazine (antidiuretic, 30 mg/kg) were administered o rally to male rats and their urine output was monitored over a 5 h period. The urine samples and both fruit extracts were analysed for sodium and pota ssium content using flame photometry. Both extracts failed to induce signif icant diuretic and antidiuretic activities. In contract, the reference diur etic and antidiuretic drugs caused a significant increase and reduction res pectively in urine output. Urinary sodium excretion also remained unaltered with extract treatments but urinary potassium content increased markedly ( M. charantia by 66% and M. dioica by 60%) and significantly. Further, both extracts had a high endogenous potassium content (M. charantia and M. dioic a 65 and 85 meq/1 respectively). We conclude that M. charantia and M. dioic a fruits may be useful as a cheap food supplement to replenish potassium lo ss in patients on diuretic therapy. Med Sci Res 27:821-823 (C) 1999 Lippinc ott Williams & Wilkins.