Acute diuretic effects in conscious rats produced by some medicinal plants used in the state of São Paulo, Brasil.

Extracts of 32 medicinal plants used popularly for their presumed diuretic and/or antihypertensive properties were tested for diuretic effects in conscious unrestrained rats. Extracts were made using aqueous ethanol (50:50, v/v) at 4-10 degrees C. When given orally at a dose of 40 ml/kg, a majority of the ethanol-free extracts produced a more pronounced diuresis than would be expected from the potassium concentration of the extracts. The most significant diuretic effect was observed with Hedychium coronarium sheath and leaf-blade extracts.