DIURETIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF A CRUDE
STEROIDAL SAPONIN FROM THE RHIZOMES OF RUSCUS
ACULEATUS L. IN RATS
OLIVIU VOȘTINARU1, GEORGETA BALICA2*, ALINA ELENA PÂRVU3, CRISTINA MOGOȘAN1, IRINA CAZACU1, CRISTINA POP1, MIRCEA TĂMAȘ2, GIANINA CRIȘAN2
1Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of
Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 L. Pasteur Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 23
Gh. Marinescu Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3Department of Physiopathology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2-4 V.
Babeș Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
*corresponding author: bgeorgeta@umfcluj.ro
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Abstract:
The present study was designed to evaluate the diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects of a crude steroidal saponin from the
rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus L. (Asparagaceae). In order to evaluate the diuretic effect, the saponin was administered orally
in different doses to saline loaded Charles River Wistar (Crl:WI) rats, the urinary volumetric excretion and the urinary
excretion of key electrolytes being recorded at several time intervals. For the assessment of the anti-inflammatory effect, the
acute phase bone marrow response, the phagocytic capacity and the total antioxidant response were evaluated. The results of
this study demonstrated significant and dose-dependent diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects for the crude steroidal saponin
extracted from the rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus L., which could lead to the development of some pharmaceutical products
with natural compounds potentially active in disorders of the urinary tract.

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