Abstract

In the present study, the diuretic and antioxidant potential of Clitoria ternatea leaf extracts were evaluated. Preliminary phytochemical screening of three solvent extracts [methanol (MCTL), chloroform, and aqueous) of the leaves revealed that the extracts were rich in alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and saponins. Among the various extracts, optimal antioxidant activity was observed in the MCTL extract. In vivo studies, using Wistar albino rats at doses of 150, 300, and 450 mg/kg along with furosemide (20 mg/kg) as standard and Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (2%) as control, evaluated its diuretic activity using parameters like urine volume and urinary electrolytes. Among the three extracts, MCTL extracts at 450 mg/kg concentration possessed reasonable diuretic activity, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in comparison with furosemide (the standard diuretic drug). Furthermore, antiurolithiatic activity was also shown by the extracts with optimal activity in the MCTL extract showing 73.2% ± 2.1% and 48.3% ± 3.1% inhibition of nucleation and aggregation, respectively. Based on the findings from this study, it can be suggested that the MCTL extract of the C. ternatea leaves show efficacy in conditions such as hypertension and edema, which require flushing out of excess fluids.

Key words: Clitoria ternatea, diuretic activity, oxalate crystals, antioxidant activity.