Diuretic Potency of Belalai Gajah Plants (Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.fil.) Lindau)

Abstract

Backgrounds: The use of belalai gajah plants (Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.fil.) Lindau) is believed by the Chinese community to be able to treat hypertension, so to prove whether this power exists in belalai gajah plants is to do a diuretic activity test. Objective of Study: to determine the presence of diuretic potency in belalai gajah plants. Methods: This test used male white rats of the Sprague Dawley strain with a body weight of 200-250 grams aged 2-2.5 months as many as 35 rats which were divided into 7 groups. The first group or no treatment, the second group with 2.8 ml/200 g body weight of distilled water, the third and fourth groups with 0.72 mg/200 g body weight of furosemide and 1.44 mg/200 g body weight, the fifth, sixth, and seventh groups with administration of belalai gajah plants extract doses of 75 mg/kg body weight, 150 mg/kg body weight, and 300 mg/kg body weight. This test uses the Cumming method. Urine collection was carried out for 24 hours, then urine volume, urine pH, also sodium and potassium levels in rat urine were measured. Results: The results of this study showed that without treatment, the administration of distilled water at a dose of 2.8 ml/200 g body weight, furosemide at a dose of 0.72 mg/200 g body weight and 1.44 mg/200 g body weight, and belalai gajah plants extract at a dose of 75 mg/kg body weight, 150 mg/kg body weight, and 300 mg/kg body weight resulted in a urine volume of 13.01 ± 0.07 ml; 13.77±0.17 ml; 15.78± 0.39 ml; 18.13±0.23 ml; 14.05±0.06 ml; 16.78±0.12 ml; 17.98±0.09 ml (p<0.5). Furthermore, the urine pH was successively 7.02 ± 0.04; 7.11±0.02; 7.21±0.02; 7.58±0.18; 7.15±0.03; 7.37±0.03; 7.44±0.02 (p>0.5). The results of sodium levels in urine were respectively 1.06±0.03 mEq/ ml; 1.14±0.03 mEq/ml; 2.17±0.09 mEq/ml; 4.01±0.069 mEq/ml; 1.34±0.08 mEq/ml; 1.49±0.02mEq/ml; 1.77 ±0.05 mEq/ml (p<0.5) and urinary potassium levels 0.5±0.03 mEq/ml, respectively; 0.57±0.018 mEq/ ml; 0.98±0.023 mEq/ml; 1.88±0.04 mEq/ml; 0.6±0.02 mEq/ml; 0.76±0.021 mEq/ml; 0.87±0.032 mEq/ ml (p<0.5). Conclusion: Belalai gajah plants extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight has the ability to increase urine volume which is close to the urine volume by administering furosemide 1.44 mg/200 g body weight. Belalai gajah plants extract at a dose of 75 mg/kg body weight had a urine pH close to urine pH by administering distilled water at a dose of 2.8 ml/200 g body weight and 0.72 mg furosemide/200 g body weight. Giving belalai gajah plants extract at a dose of 75 mg/kg body weight has potassium levels in the urine that are close to urine potassium levels by administering distilled water. Key words: Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.fil.) Lindau, Diuretic Potency, Urine