Kouao Augustin Amonkan¹, Brou André Konan^1,, Kacou Jules Marius Djétouan¹

The roots of Ficus exasperata Valh (Moraceae) are commonly used in traditional medicine to treat various pathologies including edema and arterial hypertension. Also, this study was conducted to assess the effects of two extracts of the root bark of this medicinal plant on urinary excretion in rats. To do this, 12 groups of 6 water-overloaded rats (50 ml/kg) were treated separately with 0.9% NaCl solution, FURO 5 mg/kg, FEae (15-100 mg/kg) and FEee (15-100 mg/kg). Excreted urine was collected at regular intervals of 2 h for 8 h to determine urinary excretion volume (UEV). Like furosemide, the two plant extracts (FEae and FEee) caused significant urinary excretion in water-overloaded rats. The most marked effect in terms of UEV was observed after the administration of FEae 15 mg/kg. At this dose, an EUV of 76 ± 0.21% and higher than that of FURO 5 mg/kg (59 ± 0.01%) was obtained 6 h after the treatment of the animals. These recorded EUV values were significantly higher at p < 0.001 than that of 0.9 % NaCl saline solution. Ficus exasperata root bark extracts induced significant increases in urinary excretion in Wistar rats. These results could justify the empirical use of this plant as a diuretic in the treatment of edema and hypertension. However, in order to better understand the physiological mechanisms underlying this action, additional studies must be carried out.

Ficus exasperata, furosemide, diuretic, urinary excretion, arterial hypertension, edema