Diuretic activity of aqueous extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira in albino rats.

Background: Diuretic compounds that stimulate the excretion of water with small traceable ions are potentially useful in most of disorders including those exhibiting edema such as congestive heart failure, nephritis, toxemia of pregnancy, premenstrual tension, and hypertension. The aim was to evaluate the diuretic activity of aqueous extract of roots of Cissampelos pareira (AQERCP) by Lipschitz method in albino rats. Methods: Five groups of Albino rats were used to evaluate the diuretic activity of AQERCP by using metabolic cages. The Group I serves as normal control received vehicle (carboxymethyl cellulose 2% in normal saline), the Group II furosemide (10 mg/Kg, p.o) in vehicle; other Groups III, IV, and V were treated with low (100 mg/kg), medium (200 mg/kg), and high (400 mg/kg) doses of AQERCP in vehicle. Immediately, after the extract treatment all the rats were hydrated with saline (15 ml/kg, p.o) and placed in the metabolic cages (3/cage), specially designed to separate urine and faeces, kept at 21°C±0.5°C.The total volume of urine collected was measured at the end of 5th hr. During this period, no food and water was made available to animals. Various parameters such as total urine volume and concentration of sodium, potassium, chloride ions in the urine were measured and estimated respectively. Results: In this model, when compared to vehicle treated control group the AQERCP at different dose levels (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) has significantly increased the urine volume and also enhanced the elimination of sodium, potassium and chloride ions in urine. Conclusion: The results showed that single dose administration of AQERCP as 100, 200 and 400 mg/Kg and standard frusemide (10 mg/kg b.wt) has significantly (p<0.05*, p<0.01**, p<0.001***) increased the urine output along with an increase in concentration of sodium, potassium, and chloride. AQERCP 400 mg/Kg produced a greater diuretic activity, which is comparable to the effect of standard furosemide (10 mg/kg).The present study has supported and justified the basis for folklore use of roots of C. pareira as a diuretic agent.

Screening for Antimicrobial Activity of Cissampelos pareira L. Methanol Root Extract.

Aims: To screen for the antibacterial activity of Cissampelos pareira L. using six bacteria (Two Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and four Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris). The phytochemicals that are responsible for the bioactivity were also screened. Study Design: An In vitro antibacterial assay was done using disc diffusion. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from Mbeere community, Embu county-Kenya. Authentication of botanical identity was done at the department of biological sciences while extraction and phytochemical analysis was undertaken in the department of Chemistry, Egerton University-Kenya. Antimicrobial bioassay was carried out at Department of Microbiology, Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital. Methodology: Disc diffusion test was used to determine antimicrobial activity to plant extracts. Chemical tests were used to determine the group of phytochemicals present in the sample extract. Results: Cissampelos pareira L. methanol root extract demonstrated antibacterial activity to four of the six tested bacteria. The highest inhibition was demonstrated toward S. aureus (20 mm), S. typhimurium (17 mm), K. pneumoniae (14 mm) and E. coli at (9 mm). P. vulgaris and S. pneumoniae were not sensitive to the extract at all. The phytochemical screening demonstrated the presence of all phytochemicals tested (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and steroids). Conclusion: This study reveals that Cissampelos pareira L. has antibacterial activity to both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. This antibacterial activity is associated with the variety of phytochemicals found in this plant. Therefore, the plant has potential to be harnessed for further study in drug discovery.

In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of Cissampelos pareira against carbon-tetrachloride induced hepatic damage.

Administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Cissampelos pareira roots (CPRE) and standard drug silymarin in rats showed significant hepatoprotective action against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. Elevated serum marker enzymes of AST, ALT, ALP and serum bilirubin were significantly reduced to near normal level in CPRE treated rats. Lipid peroxidation level was decreased significantly in CPRE 100, 200, 400 mg/kg doses treatment groups. In case of antioxidant enzymes SOD, catalase levels were increased significantly after CPRE 200, 400 mg/kg doses, similarly it increased the enzyme levels of GST, GPx, and GSH. CPRE 200, 400 mg/kg decreased cholesterol level, and increased triglyceride level. In vitro hepatoprotective activity of the extract was evaluated at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg/ml concentration against CCl4 (1%) induced toxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. HepG2 cells showed significant dose dependent increase in percentage viability at the doses 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg/ml of CPRE compared to CCl4 exposed HepG2 cells. Results of this study strongly demonstrate Cissampelos pariera having good hepatoprotective potential.