Potential low toxic alternative for Na-Cl cotransporter inhibition: A diuretic effect and mechanism study of Pyrrosia petiolosa

Abstract

Background: Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, is often associated with serious metabolic side effects. Pyrrosia petiolosa (Christ) Ching is a traditional Chinese medicine that possesses diuretic properties, without any obvious side effects.

Aim: To evaluate the diuretic effect of P. petiolosa (Christ) Ching and to elucidate its underlying mechanism of action.

Methods: Extracts obtained from different polar components of P. petiolosa (Christ) Ching were analyzed for toxicity in a Kunming mouse model. The diuretic effects of the extracts were compared to that of hydrochlorothiazide in rats. In addition, compound isolation procedures, cell assays of Na-Cl cotransporter inhibition and rat diuretic test of monomeric compounds were conducted to identify the active ingredients in the extract. Subsequently, homology modeling and molecular docking were performed to explain the reason behind the diuretic activity observed. Finally, LC-MS analysis was used to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action of P. petiolosa (Christ) Ching.

Results: No toxicity was observed in mice administered P. petiolosa (Christ) Ching extracts. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the most significant diuretic effect. Similar results were obtained during the analysis for Na⁺ content in rat urine. Further separation of P. petiolosa (Christ) Ching components led to the isolation of methyl chlorogenate, 2',3'-dihydroxy propyl pentadecanoate, and β-carotene. Results from cell assays showed that the Na-Cl cotransporter inhibitory activity of methyl chlorogenate was greater than that of hydrochlorothiazide. This result was again confirmed by the diuresis tests of monomeric compounds in rats. The molecular simulations explain the stronger interactions between the methyl chlorogenate and Na-Cl cotransporter. Of the compounds determined using LC-MS analysis, 185 were identified to be mostly organic acids.

Conclusions: P. petiolosa possesses significant diuretic activities without any obvious toxicity, with least two possible mechanisms of action. Further study on this herb is warranted.

Keywords: Acide organique; Diuretic; Diurétique; Hydrochlorothiazide; Inhibition du cotransporteur Na-Cl; Na-Cl cotransporter inhibition; Organic acid; Pyrrosia petiolosa.