Gallic acid, a phenolic compound isolated from Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) Kuntze leaves, induces diuresis and saluresis in rats

• Published in: Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology Vol. 391; no. 6; pp. 649 - 655
• Main Authors: Schlickmann, Fabile, Boeing, Thaise, Mariano, Luisa Nathália Bolda, da Silva, Rita de Cássia Melo Vilhena de Andrade Fonseca, da Silva, Luisa Mota, de Andrade, Sérgio Faloni, de Souza, Priscila, Cechinel-Filho, Valdir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acids; Amiloride; Atropine; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Conductivity; Creatinine; Diuresis; Diuretics; Excretion; Furosemide; Gallic acid; Hydrochlorothiazide; Indomethacin; Leaves; Medicinal plants; Neurosciences; NG-Nitroarginine methyl ester; Original Article; pH effects; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Phenols; Potassium; Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase; Rats; Rodents; Taste; Diuretic; Natriuretic; Cyclooxygenase; Saluretic; Flavonoid
• ISSN: 0028-1298; 1432-1912
• DOI: 10.1007/s00210-018-1502-8

Although present in the leaves of Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) and many other medicinal plants commonly used to augment urinary volume excretion, the effects of gallic acid as a diuretic agent remain to be studied. Wistar rats were orally treated with vehicle, hydrochlorothiazide, or gallic acid. The effects of gallic acid in the presence of hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, amiloride, L-NAME, atropine, and indomethacin were also investigated. Diuretic index, pH, conductivity, and electrolyte excretion were evaluated at the end of the experiment (after 8 or 24 h). Gallic acid induced diuretic and saluretic (Na + and Cl − ) effects, without interfering with K + excretion, when orally given to female and male rats at a dose of 3 mg/kg. These effects were associated with increased creatinine and conductivity values while pH was unaffected by any of the treatments. Plasma Na + , K + , and Cl − levels were not affected by any of the acute treatments. The combination with hydrochlorothiazide or furosemide was unable to intensify the effects of gallic acid when compared with the response obtained with each drug alone. On the other hand, the treatment with amiloride plus gallic acid amplified both diuresis and saluresis, besides to a marked potassium-sparing effect. Its diuretic action was significantly prevented in the presence of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, but not with the pretreatments with L-NAME or atropine. Although several biological activities have already been described for gallic acid, this is the first study demonstrating its potential as a diuretic agent.