Resumen

DAUD THOENE, Adriana; HABIB INTERSIMONE, Natalia  y  SANCHEZ RIERA, Alicia. Diuretic activity of aqueous extracts of Polylepis australis Bitter (queñoa). Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2007, vol.12, n.4. ISSN 1028-4796.

The aim of this paper was to carry out an experimental study in Wistar rats in order to analyze the diuretic activity of aqueous extracts of the leaves and bark of queñoa, Polylepis australis Bitter, administered by oral route. The diuretic effect of the extracts was proved at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, presenting higher action, diuretic and saluretic activity against the control group and furosemide (20 mg/kg). The Na⁺/K⁺ ratio was analyzed and it was observed an increase against the negative control and a decrease against the reference diuretic, which would suggest that the aqueous extracts of leaves and bark of queñoa could act as thiazide diuretics, which rise the urinary levels of K⁺, altering the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. The results would validate the popular use of the leaves and bark of queñoa as an antihypertensive as a result of its diuretic activity.

Palabras clave : Diuretic; Polylepis australis; medicinal plants; furosemide.

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