DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT OF SALVIA OFFICINALIS L.

Salvia officinalis L. is a perennial woody shrub; mainly dried leaves used as raw material in medicine, perfumery and food industry. The aim of this study was to investigate diuretic effects of leaf extract of Salvia officinalis L. in normal rats. Methanolic extract of Salvia officinalis L. leaves were administered to experimental rats orally at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o., Hydrochlorothiazide (10 mg/kg) was used as positive control in study. The diuretic effect of the extract was evaluated by measuring urine volume & excretion of sodium-potassium content. Urine volume was significantly increased by methanolic extract in comparison to control group. While the excretion of sodium was also increased by extract (100mg/kg). The methanolic extract had the additional advantage of a potassium-conserving effect. We can conclude that methanolic extract of Salvia officinalis L. produced notable diuretic effect which appeared to be comparable to that produced by the reference diuretic HCTZ (Hydrochlorothiazide). The present study provides a quantitative basis for explaining the folkloric use of Salvia officinalis L. as a diuretic agent.