Diuretic activity of Olive (Olea europaea L.)

Diuresis is important in the treatment of many diseases ranging from acute cases as renal failure to chronic cases as hypertension. Olive, Olea europaea L., is a species of a small evergreen tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the Mediterranean region. Olive leaves are used as anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antipyretic, vasodilatory, hypotensive, diuretic and hypoglycemic agents in traditional medicine. Recently, it has been shown that olive leaf extract (OLE) has calcium channel blocker property. The mechanism of the diuretic activity was studied through determination of saluretic, natriuretic and carbonic anhydrase inhibition indices, in addition to assessing glomerular and tubular functions in lithium clearance experiments. Results showed that the petroleum ether extract and aqueous methanol extract of olive leaves possess efficient diuretic activity. Significant increase in creatinine urinary excretion and saluretic index was noticed on administration of aqueous methanol extract. Phytochemical study of aqueous methanol extract led to isolation of three flavonoid compounds. There structures were determined through spectroscopic assay as luteolin, apigenin, apigenin 7-O-β-D-neohesperopyranoside.

Keywords: Olea europaea, Diuretic activity, Oleaceae, Flavonoids