Background: Natural foods are presently being evaluated for their pharmacological activity. They are comparatively safer and possess fewer adverse effects. Objective: The current study was designed to evaluate the diuretic effect of different doses of lyophilized Beta vulgaris. Methodology: Aqueous solution of Beta vulgaris at doses of (500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg) was administered to rats. Furosemide 40 mg/70kg and distilled water were used as standard and control respectively. Metabolic cage was used for evaluation of diuretic effect. Diuretic effect was observed 24 h after orally administering the drugs. The urine output, pH, sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphorus were measured. Result: Beta vulgaris showed highly significant (p<0.001) diuretic activity as compared to control. Both doses of Beta vulgaris also showed highly significant (p<0.001) effect on sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphorus excretion as compared to control. Both doses of Beta vulgaris showed alkalization of urine. Conclusion: From our study we came to conclude that Beta vulgaris at 500 mg/kg can be used as a diuretic agent where as at 1000 mg/kg dose it not only possesses diuretic potential but also doesn’t cause hypokalemia and is also very useful in treating hyperphosphatemia as it increases excretion of phosphate in urine.
Key words: Chloride, Diuretics, Metabolic cage, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sodium.