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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 42
| Issue : 1 | Page : 52-56 |
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A comparative diuretic evaluation of fruit and root of Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) in albino rats
Ankitha Sudheendran1, MA Shajahan2, S Premlal3
1 Department of Dravyaguna Vijnana, Ahalia Ayurveda Medical College, Palakkad, Kerala, India
2 Department of Dravyaguna Vijnana, Government Ayurveda College, Kerala, India
3 Drug Standardisation Unit, Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala, India
| Date of Submission | 08-Jun-2017 |
| Date of Decision | 08-Nov-2017 |
| Date of Acceptance | 06-Apr-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 07-Dec-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Ankitha Sudheendran
Department of Dravyaguna Vijnana, Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvanathapuram - 695 001, Kerala
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ayu.AYU_154_17
 Abstract | | |
Background: Gokshura Moola (root of Tribulus terrestris Linn.) is one among the ingredients of Dashamoola, a group of ten medicinal plants principally comprising roots as the useful part. In practice instead of root, fruit of Gokshura is widely used in most of the preparations of Dashamoola in Kerala. Dashamoola occupies a significant role in a wide range of Ayurvedic formulations and holds a major share in the drug manufacturing industry. This high demand of Dashamoola, leads the use of fruit instead of its root and implies the need to compare the efficacy of root and fruit of Gokshura. Aim: This study is planned to assess whether fruit of Gokshura can be substituted for its root using the parameter of diuretic activity in Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: Wistar albino rats were divided in to four groups. The group I control group and group II standard group was orally administered with carboxymethyl cellulose 2% in normal saline and furosemide (20 mg/kg) respectively. Group III was administered orally with decoction of Gokshura root and groups IV with Gokshura fruit decoction, with a dose of 8.64 ml/kg. The diuretic effect was evaluated by measuring urine volume, Na+, K+ and Cl− ion content in urine. The results were analyzed by applying one-way ANOVA and LSD Post hoc pairwise comparison test. Results: Both test drugs in group III and group IV provided significant increase in urine output when compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Decoction of Gokshura root provided a significant increase in comparison to decoction of Gokshura fruit in regards of sodium (P < 0.01), potassium (P < 0.001), and chloride ion (P < 0.05) excretion. Conclusion: Diuretic action of both root and fruit of Gokshura is similar in terms of urine volume, but root is more effective in the basis of ionic excretion. Hence, while treating patients suffering from ionic imbalance, it is better to use fruit of Gokshura for protecting the ionic balance during diuresis. In all other conditions, root can be used for a better diuretic activity.
Keywords: Dashamoola, diuretic effect, Gokshura, Tribulus terrestris Linn.
How to cite this article:
Sudheendran A, Shajahan M A, Premlal S. A comparative diuretic evaluation of fruit and root of Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) in albino rats. AYU 2021;42:52-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Sudheendran A, Shajahan M A, Premlal S. A comparative diuretic evaluation of fruit and root of Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.) in albino rats. AYU [serial online] 2021 [cited 2023 Mar 31];42:52-6. Available from: https://www.ayujournal.org/text.asp?2021/42/1/52/362927 |
| Introduction | |  |
Dashamoola (group of ten medicinal plant roots) is a combination of five roots of herbs/shrubs (Laghu Panchamoola) and five roots of trees (Brihata Panchamoola). Among them, Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris Linn) is a herb of which the useful part is its root and fruit but the selection of plant part for formulation is still a controversy. In Kerala instead of roots, the fruits of Gokshura are being used in the preparations of Dashamoola.[1]
Dashamoola is a major ingredient of Ayurvedic formulations and has a demand of about 100 tons above annually. Even though the use of fruit is a wise decision to avoid the extinction of the plant by the abundant use of root, therapeutic efficacy needs to be verified. Hence, here comes the need to compare the root and fruit of Gokshura pharmacologically and to clarify whether there is any difference or which is more potent or to provide a scientific support about the usage of fruit and root of Gokshura for Dashamoola preparation.
The source plant of Gokshura is T. terrestris Linn. of Zygophyllaceae family. In Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, both root and fruit and the whole plant of Gokshura are indicated for medicinal preparations.[2] An ancient medical text Charaka Samhita has identified it as the best drug for “Mootrakricha-Anilaharaanaam” (obstructive uropathy).[3] Charaka Samhita has included this drug under the group of ten herbs viz. Shwayathuhara (anti-inflammatory), Mootra Virechaneeya (diuretic), and Krimighna Mahakashaya (anthelmintic).[4],[5] Sushruta Samhita included Gokshura under, the plant groups such as Dashamoola, Laghu Panchamoola and Kantaka Panchamoola.[6] In Ayurveda classics, Gokshura is said to be useful in the treatment of Mutrakrichha (dysuria), Madhumeha (diabetes), Ashmari (renal calculi), Hridroga (cardiac diseases), etc.[7]
Since the drug Gokshura has its main action on Mootravaha Srotasa (urinary system), for the comparative evaluation of the efficacy between the root and fruit, the best choice will be the analysis of diuretic action.
| Materials and methods | | |
Experimental animals
Wistar strain albino rats (150–300 g) of either sex were obtained from the pharmacology laboratory of Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram. They were grouped and housed in polyacrylic cages (three animals per cage) and maintained under standard laboratory conditions. They were fed commercial rat feed and water ad libitum. The animals were acclimatized one week before experimentation period. The animals were exposed to 12-h light and 12-h dark cycle with the relative humidity at 50%–70% and the ambient temperature 22 ± 3°C during the experimental period. All animals were kept in the same environmental conditions. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (Order No.: IAEC NO27/IAEC/AVC/2015) in accordance with the guidelines formulated by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals, India.
Procurement and preparation of test drug
The mature root and fruit of T. terrestris Linn. were collected during summer season, by the mid of May 2016 from Shanghumugham beachside in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The root and fruit of T. terrestris Linn. were cut into small pieces, washed, shade dried, and coarsely powdered. Forty-eight grams of coarsely powdered drug was mixed with 768-ml water and reduced to 96 ml according to the Kashaya (decoction) preparation procedure mentioned in Sharangadhara Samhita.[8]
Dose fixation
The dose for the experimental study was calculated by extrapolating the human dose to animal dose based on the body surface area ratio using the table of Paget and Barnes:[9]
Human dose of Kashaya = 96 ml/day
Rat dose = 96 × 0.018 (Paget and Barnes conversion factor)
=1.728 ml/200 g rat weight (8.64 ml/kg).
Preparation of standard drug
The standard drug furosemide (Lasix 40 mg batch no. 6NA0082) was taken as 20 mg/kg human dose.[10] The standard drug was dissolved (mg/ml/kg) in 2% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution which was prepared with normal saline.
Root of administration
Oral route using feeding cannula sleeved to the disposable syringe.
Grouping of animals
The acclimatized 24 Wistar strains of albino rats were weighed and grouped into four with six animals in each group. Selection was done randomly so as to assure equal distribution of gender, body weight, etc., in each group. Then, the animals were marked for proper identification and each group was kept in separate cages. Each cage was labeled separately for group identification. Group I was control group (CMC 2% in normal saline), group II – standard group, furosemide (20 mg/kg), group III – test group, T. terrestris Linn. root Kashaya effective dose (TTRED) and group IV – test group, T. terrestris Linn. fruit Kashaya effective dose (TTFED).
Diuretic activity
The diuretic effect was carried out as per the modified method of Lipschitz Test.[11] All the rats were withheld for food and water 18 h before the experiment. They were hydrated with 5 ml/kg of distilled water before drug administration to ensure uniform hydration. Immediately after oral drug administration, the animals were placed in metabolic cages provided with a wire mesh bottom and a funnel to collect the urine. [Figure 1] Stainless steel sieves were placed in the funnel to retain feces and to allow the urine to pass. The tip of funnel was put into a graduated beaker for proper measurement of urine. The urine was collected in measuring jar up to 5 h after the dosing. In this method, diuretic activity was evaluated by a single-dose drug administration. Volume of urine was measured and sample was analyzed for ions Na+, K+, and Cl−.
Statistical analysis
The data on urine volume, Na+, K+, and Cl were collected for the control group, standard group, and two test groups. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were calculated and statistically tested using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Least significant difference post hoc pairwise comparison was carried out for mutual comparison of groups. A calculated “P” < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
| Results | | |
Results [Table 1] showed a significant difference in the urine volume, sodium, potassium, and chloride ion concentration at the end of 5th h (P < 0.001) with respect to each group. On mutual comparison between groups, [Table 2] The root and fruit of Gokshura showed a significant increase in urine output when compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The comparison of the test groups (root and fruit Kashaya) did not show any significant difference in excreted urine volume. | Table 1: Descriptive statistics and test of significance (ANOVA) for the comparison of urine volume sodium, potassium, and chloride
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 | Table 2: Comparison of urine volume, sodium, potassium, and chloride ion among each group
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The concentration of excreted sodium ion level in urine was almost equal in the control group and TTRED. However, on comparison of the test groups, there showed a significant increase in sodium-ion excretion in TTRED was found (P < 0.01).
The group TTRED showed a significant increase in potassium ion excretion when compared to the control group (P < 0.001). In the case of chloride ion excretion, TTRED showed statistically high significance (P < 0.001) when compared to the control group than TTFED (P < 0.05). On comparison, TTRED showed a significant increase (P < 0.001) in comparison to TTFED in potassium and chloride ion excretion. [Graph 1] and [Graph 2] displays a comparative line diagram showing amount of excreted urine volume(ml) in four groups and Na+, K+, and Cl− in four groups respectively.
| Discussion | | |
Gokshura (T. terrestris Linn.) is a known diuretic herbal drug that is used in many Ayurvedic preparations and is a component of Dashamoola, an Ayurvedic combination used in the treatment of various diseases. Even though root is a useful part in Dashamoola as per classical references, only dried fruits are used for the manufacturing of formulations of Gokshura. However, only the fruits of Gokshura are available in the raw drug market, and none of the samples examined contain roots of the plant.
On considering Rasapanchaka (five principles of drug action), Gokshura possess Madhura Rasa (sweet taste), Snigdha and Guru Guna (unctuous and heavy attributes), Shita Veerya (cold potency), and Madhura Vipaka (sweet post-digestive effect).[2] Madhura Rasa and Snigdha, Guru Guna, are having Bhouthika (element) configuration of Prithvi (earth) and Jala (water). The Gokshura possess Madhura Vipaka which is having Srushta Vit-Mutra (potent excretion) action. These pharmacological properties, in turn, increase Snigdha Guna and Kleda (mucoid fluid metabolites) in human body. To reduce the Kleda, body will resort to a feedback mechanism, i.e., Kleda (fluid) excretion by Mutra, and urine output will increase accordingly to maintain the homeostasis. Rakta Prasadana (blood purification) is the function of Shita Veerya. The main function of kidney is maintaining the homeostasis by filtering Rakta and thus keeping a normal electrolyte balance in the body. Hence, administration of Gokshura with Shita Veerya will augment the function of kidney to accomplish its function. Diuretics are capable of increasing urine output and are useful in the treatment of diseases related with the retention of fluids. In this study, pharmacological evaluation of diuretic action of Kashaya of root and fruit of Gokshura was evaluated by modified Lipschitz test method using furosemide as a standard drug under controlled laboratory conditions. The diuretic effect was assessed by measuring the urine volume and amount of Na+, K+, and Cl− ion concentration in excreted urine.
When compared with the control group, the standard drug and two test groups (TTRED and TTFED) showed a significant difference (P < 0.001) in amount of urine volume excreted. On considering the mutual comparison of root and fruit test groups, they did not show any significant difference, i.e., both TTRED and TTFED showed an almost equal diuretic effect in terms of urine volume.
As the standard drug furosemide is a loop diuretic, it shows increased sodium, potassium and chloride ion excretion through urine. The group TTRED did not show any particular action in sodium-ion excretion as the value was observed similar to that of the control group, but it showed effective potassium and chloride ion excretion. The group TTFED decreased the sodium and potassium output but showed only a mild increase than the control group in chloride ion excretion. On mutual comparison, the group TTRED showed a significant difference (P < 0.001) with TTFED in sodium, potassium, and chloride ion excretion.
The results showed that the root Kashaya of Gokshura cause an increased amount of excreted urine volume and Na+, K+, and Cl− excretion as compared to fruit Kashaya of Gokshura. However, it will not lead to electrolyte imbalance as it does not produce Na+, K+, and Cl− ion excretion much like standard drug furosemide (a loop diuretic). In a sense, for simple diuresis, i.e., in patients who are suffering hypokalemia and hyponatremia or those patients who does not want much ionic urine excreton, can choose fruit of Gokshura as diuretic agent can be given. In all other conditions, root can be used for a better diuretic activity
Thus, the study revealed that both the root and fruit of T. terrestris Linn. possess diuretic action. On comparing both, the root shows more significance than fruit. Hence, Dashamoola can be said is better to use root of Gokshura at least in formulations containing root groups such as Dashamoola, Laghu Panchamoola, and Kantaka Panchamoola.
Since Gokshura is one among easily cultivable plant in dry sandy coastal lands, the manufactures can easily adopt the usage of Gokshura root in classical preparations mentions Gokshura in root groups.
The decoction of root and fruit of Gokshura showed an increased amount of excreted urine volume and decoction of Gokshura root showed more Na+, K+, and Cl− excretion as compared to decoction of Gokshura fruit. Diuretic action of both root and fruit of Gokshura is similar in terms of urine volume, but root is more effective in the basis of ionic excretion. Hence, while treating patients suffering from ionic imbalance, it is better to use fruit of Gokshura for protecting the ionic balance during diuresis. In all other conditions, root can be used for diuretic activity.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
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| 11. | Sayana SB, Khanwelkar CC, Nimmagadda VR, Dasi JM, Chavan VR, Kutani A, et al. Evaluation of diuretic activity of alcoholic extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira in albino rats. J Clin Diagn Res 2014;8:HC01-4. |
[Figure 1]
[Table 1], [Table 2]
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