Ramesh Kumar Gupta, Sudhansu Ranjan Swain, Jagannath Sahoo, Padala Narasimha Murthy, Pramod Kumar Sharma and Umakant Bajaj
Fumaria indica Linn. (Syn: Fumaria parviflora, Fumariaceae), commonly known as fumitory, that has been traditionally used for a number of ailments. The plant is indigenously used as anthelmintic, antidyspeptic, blood purifier, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, stomachic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory. The aim of present study to evaluate the comparative study of diuretic activity of Fumaria indica extract of different fractions. The diuretic activity of extracts of Fumaria indica was examined by treating different groups of wistar albino rats with single (200 mg/kg) oral doses of alcoholic and aqueous extract/fractions. Furosemide (10 mg/kg) was used as positive control in the study. Out of the different fractions and extract, the ethanolic fraction (200 mg/kg) significantly increased the urine output (p< 0.001) and urinary electrolyte (Na+, K+ and Cl−). The pattern of diuresis induced by the ethanolic fraction was almost similar to that produced by the furosemide. The results of this study strongly indicate the ethanolic fraction of Fumaria indica showed the grater diuretic effect of which may be attributed to its diuretic potential, and there by scientifically support its traditional use.
