Effects of Aegopodium podagraria Preparations on the Metabolic Disorders Induced in Rats by Excess Fructose Combined WITH Hydrochlorothiazide: The Relationship between Influence on Electrolyte and Carbohydrate Metabolism

Aims: To evaluate the effect of Aegopodium podagraria aerial part extract and tincture on electrolyte, glucose and uric acid metabolism in rats receiving excess fructose (10% drinking solution) combined with hydrochlorothiazide (20 mg/kg).

Study Design: Fourty-two male rats were randomly and evenly distributed to seven groups: Group I: intact control; Group II: fructose supplementation; Group III: fructose supplementation + hydrochlorothiazide; Group IV: fructose supplementation + hydrochlorothiazide + A. podagraria extract, 1 g/kg; Group V: fructose supplementation + hydrochlorothiazide + A. podagraria tincture, 1 ml/kg; Group VI: fructose supplementation +hydrochlorothiazide +A. podagraria tincture, 5 ml/kg; Group VII: fructose supplementation + hydrochlorothiazide + reference drug allopurinol, 10 mg/kg. The duration of the treatment was 10 weeks.

Place and Duration of Study: Central Scientific-Research Laboratory of National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine, between February and 2010 and May 2010.

Methodology: At week 9, glucose tolerance test was performed. At week 10, the excretory renal function was analyzed, creatinine, uric acid, sodium and potassium level in urine and plasma were determined, glomerular filtration rate, sodium and water reabsorption, Na+ /K+ ratio of urine and plasma were calculated.

Results: Hydrochlorothiazide against the background of fructose increased sodium excretion and urine Na+ /K+ ratio (P=.05). The extract and the tincture (5 ml/kg) tended to increase sodium reabsorption while the tincture at the lower dose and allopurinol did not change the renal function. The extract exerted a hypouricemic effect (P=.05). In contrast to the tincture and allopurinol, the extract augmented potassium excretion and reduced its blood content (P=.05). Base on Na+/K+ ratios these changes may be associated with unfavourable hyperaldosteronism. The еу ерtincture (1 ml/kg) decreased blood glucose level (P=.05).

Conclusion: A. podagraria tincture exerts hypoglycemic effect on the model similar to metabolic syndrome. Further study of A. podagraria extract dosage regimens is required.