Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis and Diuretic Activity of the Extracts of Coriandrum Sativum Leaves in Wistar Albino Rats

Coriandrum Sativum plant is used in the traditional medicine as diuretic. In the present study the diuretic activity of methanol and aqueous extract of leaves of coriander sativum was studied and the activity was compared with furosemide as standard. Methanolic extract exhibited significant diuretic activity as evidenced by increased total urine volume and the urine concentration of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^-. The results thus support that coriander sativum leaves extract uses as a diuretic agent.

Method: Wistar albino rats (150-200g) of either sex were used for the study. Animals were divided into 6 groups, each containing 6 animals. Group 1served  as a normal group and received normal saline (2.5ml /kg p.o),group 2 served as control group received furosemide  (10 mg/kg p.o) body weight in saline (2.5 ml /kg p.o), group 3 served as test group and received methanol extract 400 mg/kg body weight daily through oral route together with normal saline (2.5ml /kg p.o), group 4 served as test group received water extract 400 mg/kg body weight daily through oral route together with normal saline (2.5ml/kg p.o). The urine was collected in a measuring cylinder up to 6 h. The parameters taken for individual rat were body weight before and after test period, total concentration of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^-in the urine.

Results: In the furosemide treated group, it has showed significant increase in potassium level in the urine, in the extract treated groups with methanol and aqueous, shows increasing sodium excretion more than the potassium which is considered as a very potent safe profile of diuretic agent.

Conclusion: The aim of this study was to validate the traditional claims of coriandrum sativum with respect to potential diuretic activity and to identify the possible phytoconstituents present in the leaves by using qualitative chemical test and thin layer chromatography. The preliminary phytochemical studies reveal the presence of flavonoids, glycosides and saponins which are the major compounds presence in the extract of c. sativum leaves.