Ethnopharmacological approaches to kidney disease-prospecting an indigenous species from Brazilian Pantanal

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2017
Source:Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Author(s): Cleide Adriane Signor Tirloni, Rhanany Alan Calloi Palozi, Thainá de Almeida Tomazetto, Paulo César de Paula Vasconcelos, Roosevelt Isaias Carvalho Souza, Ariany Carvalho dos Santos, Valter Paes de Almeida, Jane Manfron Budel, Lauro Mera de Souza, Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior
Ethnopharmacological relevanceAlthough Luehea divaricata Mart. (Malvaceae) is popularly used by the population of the Brazilian Pantanal for the treatment of different types of kidney diseases, no study has been carried out to prove this ethnobotanical indication.AimTo investigate the possible cardiorenal effects of an herbal preparation obtained from L. divaricata leaves.Materials and MethodsFirst, to provide quality control standards, a detailed morphological and microchemical characterization of L. divaricata leaves was performed. Then, the purified aqueous extract was obtained from the leaves of this species (ESLD) and a thorough phytochemical characterization was performed. Subsequently, acute oral toxicity test was performed after single administration of different doses (5, 50, 300, 2000 mg/kg) in male and female Wistar rats. Finally, the diuretic, hypotensive and antioxidant properties of ESLD (30, 100, 300mg/kg) were evaluated after acute and prolonged treatment and the role of angiotensin converting enzyme, aldosterone, vasopressin, and nitric oxide in these effects was investigated.ResultsAnalyses performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry showed that the main secondary metabolites present in ESLD were flavonol O-glycosides and flavone C-glycosides. Acute and prolonged treatment with ESLD was able to expressively increase urinary volume and electrolyte excretion. Mean blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were also significantly reduced after acute treatment. Moreover, treatment with ESLD was able to reduce thiobarbituric acid reactive species and increase serum nitrate levels.ConclusionThe data obtained showed that ESLD has an important diuretic and hypotensive effect, which is probably dependent on the reduction of oxidative stress and increased bioavailability of nitric oxide.

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