Amides from Piper as a Diuretic: Behind the Ethnopharmacological Uses of Piper glabratum Kunth

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 2014; no. 2014; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Gasparotto Junior, Arquimedes, Botelho Lourenço, Emerson Luiz, Jesus, Douglas Rossi, Gasparotto, Francielly Mourão, Bressan, Jaqueline, Vieira, Jennifer Alexandra Castanho, Baciquete, Tatiane da Fonseca, Lima Prando, Thiago Bruno, Cardozo Junior, Euclides Lara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2014; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Acute toxicity; Amides; Chromatography; Drug dosages; Excretion; Investigations; Liver; Metabolism; Metabolites; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Oral administration; pH effects; Phytochemicals; Pyrrolidine; Rats; Rodents; Tropaeolum majus; Urine; Brazil
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/615109

Several species of the genus Piper are known in Brazilian folk medicine as having diuretic activity. So, we propose to investigate the acute diuretic activity and the possible toxic effects of Piper glabratum Kunth, popularly known as false Jaborandi. Additionally, we propose to check whether there is any correlation between the biological activities of the crude extract (MEPG) and its 2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-trans-cinnamoyl-pyrrolidine (MMCP) in Wistar rats. The MEPG was fractioned by chromatography column and the MMCP was identified by analyses of 1H and 13C RMN spectral data and correlations. Both MEPG and MMCP were assayed for diuretic activity. The preparations obtained were orally administered in a single dose to rats. The urine excretion, pH, density, conductivity, and content of Na+, K+, Cl−, and HCO 3 - were measured in the urine of saline-loaded animals. Additionally, acute toxicity of the extract was also evaluated. MMCP at doses of 30 mg/kg was able to increase the urine volume, pH, and HCO 3 - excretion. Moreover, high dosage of MEPG showed important liver toxicity and elevated mortality when injected intraperitoneally. The results indicate that the MMCP shows important diuretic properties when administered in Wistar rats. Additionally, MEPG can induce important acute toxicity if given in high doses.