PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL AND DIURETIC SCREENING OF ETHANOLIC AND AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE

The present study was to evaluate Diuretic activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinale Rhizome in wistar rats.Ethanolic and aqueous extracts were administered to experimental rats orally at the doses of 500 mg/kg p.o. Furosemide (5 mg/kg) was used as positive control in the study.The diuretic effect of the extract was evaluated by measuring urine volume & sodium content.Urine volume was significantly increased by ethanolic extract in comparison to the aqueous and control group, while the excretion of sodium was also increased by extract.The ethanolic extract had the additional advantage over aqueous extract.We can conclude that ethanolic extract of Zingiber officinale produced notable diuretic effect which appeared to be comparable to that produced by the reference diuretic furosemide.