Abstract:
The present study was performed to evaluate diuretic activity of aqueous and essential oil extract and antihypertensive activity of the aqueous extract of Thymus Schimperi leaves against salt-sucrose induced hypertension in rats. Aqueous extract of T. Schimperi leaves at the doses of 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg and the essential oil at 1.0 and 1.5 mL/kg were administered orally with normal saline to male wistar rats (n = 6). Normal saline and hydrochlorothiazide were used as negative and positive control, respectively. Urine volume and its electrolyte contents (Na+ , K+ and Cl- ) were measured to study diuretic activity of T. Schimperi leaves. On the other hand, for antihypertensive study, rats were randomly divided into control and treatment groups (n = 6). Treatment groups were given daily aqueous extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) orally with 2% NaCl and 10% sucrose solution. Whereas, positive, negative and normal control received captopril (20 mg/kg/day with 2% NaCl and 10% sucrose solution), only 2% NaCl and 10% sucrose solution ad libitum and water ad libitum for 6 weeks, respectively. The blood pressure was measured every week using tail cuff blood pressure analyzer and after 6 weeks the blood was sampled to evaluate effect on serum lipid profile (TC, TG and BG) and liver function indicator enzymes (ALT & ALP) using clinical chemistry analyzer. The oral administration of aqueous extract of T. Schimperi leaves (500 mg/Kg/day) for six weeks produced significant (p<0.05) prevention in systolic blood pressure increment. The oral administration of aqueous extract of T. Schimperi (250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg) showed positive diuretic activity at 5 h. The aqueous extract of T. Schimperi (750 and 10000 mg/kg, orally) significantly increased Na+ , K+ and Clexcretion in 5 h and additionally essential oil of T. Schimperi (1 and1.5 mL/kg) showed significant kaliuretic effect. The results of the present study revealed the antihypertensive and diuretic activity of aqueous extract of T. Schimperi leaves. These effects might be attributed to the presence of the potassium or phenolic components of the thymus leaves.
