Sains Malaysiana 44(8)(2015): 1167–1174

Aqueous Extract of Cornsilk Confers Mild Diuretic Activity in Normal Rats

(Ekstrak Akues Sutera Jagung Cetus Aktiviti Diuretik Sederhana dalam Tikus Normal)

M.A. SOLIHAH, A.R. NURHANAN, W.A. WAN AMIR NIZAM & W.I. WAN ROSLI*

Nutrition Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

Received: 1 June 2014/Accepted: 1 April 2015

ABSTRACT

Cornsilk is traditionally used to treat illnesses related to kidney and as diuretic agent. The study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of Malaysian cornsilk in elevating diuresis and their dose response relationship in normal Sprague-Dawley rat. The diuresis activity was determined by administered the rats with different dose treatments of 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 mg/kg. Cumulative urine was significantly increased with the dosage levels (400-600 mg/kg) ranging from 14.06 - 20.13 mL. Cumulative urine of aqueous extract of cornsilk (AEC) at 400 mg/kg (14.06 mL) and 500 mg/kg (15.21 mL) treatments found to be significantly lower than positive control (21.25 mL). In addition, Na⁺ content was significantly higher compared with negative control at dosages of 500, 600, 700 and 800 mg/kg. At any rate, K⁺ and Cl^- content of all AEC treatments were not significantly different during 24 h monitoring. The pH values were increased paralleled with the increment of AEC dosages, though it was not significant. On the other result, the ED₅₀ of AEC was observed at 454.10 mg/kg. Malaysian AEC had shown a mild diuretic activity in elevating urine and Na⁺ content at dosages from 500 to 800 mg/kg. Whilst, AEC also showed an effect of potassium sparing diuretics. Thus, it is suggested that Malaysian cornsilk can be used as an alternative natural diuretic agent.

Keywords: Aqueous extract; cornsilk; diuretic property

ABSTRAK

Sutera jagung kerap kali digunakan secara tradisi untuk merawat masalah kesihatan yang berkaitan dengan buah pinggang dan sebagai agen diuretic. Kajian telah dilakukan untuk menilai keberkesanan sutera jagung Malaysia dalam meningkatkan diuresis dan perkaitan respons dos dalam tikus Sprague-Dawley normal. Aktiviti diuresis telah ditentukan dengan memberi rawatan kepada tikus pada dos yang berbeza (7 kumpulan/6 ekor setiap kumpulan) iaitu 400, 500, 600, 700 dan 800 mg/kg. Air suling digunakan sebagai kawalan negatif manakala hidroklorothiazid pula sebagai kawalan positif. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan urin kumulatif meningkat secara signifikan dengan peningkatan dos (400-600 mg/kg) dalam julat daripada 14.06-20.13 mL. Urin kumulatif ekstrak akues sutera jagung (AEC) pada dos 400 (14.06 mL) dan 500 mg/kg (15.21 mL) didapati lebih rendah daripada kawalan positif (21.25 mL). Sebagai tambahan, kandungan Na⁺ adalah lebih tinggi secara signifikan berbanding kawalan negatif pada dos 500, 600, 700 dan 800 mg/kg. Pada semua kadar, kandungan K⁺ dan Cl^- bagi semua perlakuan AEC adalah tidak signifikan dalam masa 24 jam pemerhatian. Nilai pH meningkat selari dengan peningkatan dos AEC, walaupun tidak signifikan. Dalam keputusan lain, ED₅₀ AEC adalah sebanyak 454.10 mg/kg. AEC Malaysia telah menunjukkan aktiviti diuretik sederhana dalam meningkatkan kandungan urin dan Na⁺ pada dos 500 hingga 800 mg/kg. Sementara itu, AEC juga menunjukkan kesan penahanan diuretic kalium. Oleh itu, sutera jagung Malaysia dicadangkan boleh digunakan sebagai agen diuretik semula jadi.

Kata kunci: Ekstrak akues; sifat diuretik; sutera jagung

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*Corresponding author; email: rosliishak@gmail.com