Antioxidant and diuretic effects of flower extract of Laurus nobilis

Abstract

Diuretic medications are widely used and can come with negative effects. Because they are effective and have fewer adverse effects than other treatments for renal illness, medicinal plants have become increasingly important. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant ability and the impact of Laurus nobilis extract (flower) on diuresis in rats. Two doses of 200 mg and 400 mg of Laurus nobilis extract were used to treat rats for thirty days. Then, we assessed all changes induced in urine and plasma parameters of rats, using furosemide as a standard drug. Further, we evaluated the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant ability (DPPH and FRAP) of the tested extract. The results obtained show that the administration of a single dose of Laurus nobilis extract improved the urine flow significantly after 4 h of treatment. Similarly, both doses of the tested extract enhanced sodium, potassium, and chloride excretion without inducing hypokalemia. A similar tendency was recorded for both urine and creatinine, while the results of the furosemide group revealed a significant hypokalemia effect of the standard drug. Laurus nobilis demonstrated superior antioxidant and diuretic effects without inducing hypokalemia due to the higher content of phenolic and flavonoid content. However, more advanced studies are required to explore the constituents of Laurus nobilis extracts and essential oils, as well as to test their pertinent biological activities.