Diuretic efficacy of Matricaria chamomilla in normotensive and salt-induced hypertensive rats

Abstract

Background and objectives: Traditionally Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) has various medicinal uses. It has soothing, calming, sedative, and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of decoction of Chamomile on urine flow rate, urinary and serum electrolyte concentration, urinary sodium and potassium excretion rates, urine and serum creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, and the percentage of reabsorbed of filtered sodium, in normal and salt loaded hypertensive rats.
Methods: The study was carried out on 30 rats, which were divided into two groups. The first group involved twelve normotensive rats and were subdivided into two subgroups each of 6 rats. The first subgroup served as a control group. The second subgroup received decoction Chamomile orally for 3 weeks. The second group included 18 induced hypertensive rats and were divided into 3 subgroups each of 6 rats. The first subgroup served as a positive control. The second and third subgroups received decoction of Chamomile and of Chlorthalidone respectively.
Results: Chamomile decoction produced a significant increase in urine flow, Sodium excretion rate, Glomerular filtration rate and urinary creatinine level without significant effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and serum creatinine and blood urea in normal rats. Unlike Cholothalodone Chamomile decoction did not induce diuresis and has no significant effects on blood pressure in normal and hypertensive rate. However, the same dose of chamomile significantly increased serum potassium level in both normal and hypertensive rats.
Conclusion: Chamomile has mild diuretic activity in normal rats and its effects resemble that of potassium sparing diuretics.

Full text

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Diuretic efficacy of Matricaria chamomilla in normotensive and salt-induced hypertensive rats
Kawa F. Dizaye * Asma A. Otraqchy **
*Correspondent author: Prof. Dr. Kawa Dizaye, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University,
Erbil, Iraq,
** Raparin teaching hospital, directorate of Health, Erbil, Iraq,
Abstract
Background and objectives: Traditionally Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) has various
medicinal uses. It has soothing, calming, sedative, and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study
was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of decoction of Chamomile on urine flow rate, urinary and
serum electrolyte concentration, urinary sodium and potassium excretion rates, urine and serum
creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, and the percentage of reabsorbed of filtered
sodium, in normal and salt loaded hypertensive rats.
Methods: The study was carried out on 30 rats, which were divided into two groups. The first group
involved twelve normotensive rats and were subdivided into two subgroups each of 6 rats. The first
subgroup served as a control group. The second subgroup received decoction Chamomile orally for 3
weeks. The second group included 18 induced hypertensive rats and were divided into 3 subgroups
each of 6 rats. The first subgroup served as a positive control. The second and third subgroups
received decoction of Chamomile and of Chlorthalidone respectively.
Results: Chamomile decoction produced a significant increase in urine flow, Sodium excretion rate,
Glomerular filtration rate and urinary creatinine level without significant effects on blood pressure,
heart rate, and serum creatinine and blood urea in normal rats. Unlike Cholothalodone Chamomile
decoction did not induce diuresis and has no significant effects on blood pressure in normal and
hypertensive rate. However, the same dose of chamomile significantly increased serum potassium
level in both normal and hypertensive rats.
Conclusion: Chamomile has mild diuretic activity in normal rats and its effects resemble that of
potassium sparing diuretics.
Key: Matricaria chamomilla, Cholothalodone, Diuretic, Hypertensive rats

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Introduction:
Diuretics have been used effectively to treat millions of hypertensive patients. They reduce both
systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the most of hypertensive patients, They are administered
alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents form the basis of therapy for the
majority of hypertensive patients 1. Because of their efficacy, low cost, and low side effects profile,
diuretics are first choice to be prescribed for patients with hypertension, as well as their synergistic
effect when combined with other antihypertensive agents; and their usefulness in patients with heart
failure 2.
Traditionally, in most countries all over the world many plants have been used for their diuretic
effect, for example the ripe fruits of Carum carvi and the leaves of Tanacetum vulgare are two
widely available plant materials, that are used as diuretics in the Moroccan traditional medicine 3.
Urticaria diocia, is another example, which is used by Kurdistan folks 4.
Many other herbal plants exerting diuretic property, were traditionally used, e.g. Mangifera indica,
Mimosa pudica, Lipidium sativum, and Achyranthes aspera 5. Doradilla that has a long history in the
Mexican traditional system of medicine for gall and renal stones, through its diuretic action 6.
Chamomile or Matricaria chamomilla L. (M. chamomilla) is usually referred to as the "star among
medicinal species" a well-known medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family. It has
multitherapeutic, cosmetic, and nutritional values have been established through years of traditional
and scientific uses and researches, it is one of the highly favored and much used medicinal plant in
folk and traditional medicine 7.
Matricaria Chamomilla has a wide range of therapeutic actions; soothing, calming, sedative,
relaxation, anti-inflammation, treating indigestion, hay fever, asthma, morning sickness, eczema,
and sore nipples 8. About 120 chemical constituents have been identified in chamomiles as
secondary metabolites, including 28 treptinoids, 36 flavonoids, and 52 additional compounds with
pharmacological activity 9.
Because little information is available about the activity of M. chamomilla to produce diuresis,
therefore this study is undertaken to evaluate the activity of M. chamomilla decoction as a diuretic
agent in normotensive and hypertensive animal model.

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Materials and Methods
Preparation of M. chamomilla decoction.
Dry M. chamomilla flowers were weighed and crushed to powder with a marble pestle and mortar,
then 15% w/v (150 g was added in 1000 ml of distilled water) heated in a steel kettle and allowed to
boil for 15 minutes. The flask was then placed on a shaker for four hours, at room temperature. After
shaking, the suspension was filtered through a series of filter papers to avoid the bacterial
contamination and stored at 4°C until use 10. After that, it's filled with distilled water up to 1000 ml
for making up the desired volume for dosage calculation, each rat was give 3 ml of the decoction
(1.3g/kg/day) by oral gavages every morning during the 21 days of the study.
Experimental Design.
Diuretic activity of prepared M. chamomilla decoction was studied on 30 adult male Wistar rats,
weighing 300–350 gram which were divided into two groups. The first group involved twelve
normotensive rats, six rats sacrificed as a negative control and the other six rats received 3ml 15%
decoction of M. chamomilla every day during the 21 days of study period. The second group involved
18 hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced by sodium load diet and water 11. The hypertensive
rats were subdivided into three subgroups, each of six rats. The first subgroup served as a positive
control. The second and third subgroups received 3 ml of 15% decoction Matricaria Chamomilla by
oral gavages, and 1 ml (5mg/kg) chlorthalidone respectively. All the rats were exposed to the same
environment.
Group I: Normal rats served as negative control.
Group II: Normal rats treated with decoction M. chamomilla (1.3 g/kg/day).
Group III: Hypertensive rats served as positive control.
Group IV: Hypertensive rats given 15% decoction M. chamomilla (1.3 g/kg/day).
Group VI: Hypertensive rats given chlorthalidone (5 mg/Kg).
Sample collections.
Urine samples.
Urine was collected 24 hour based, and measured after dosing by putting the rats in the metabolic
cages. Then urine volume of each rat was measured, and put in a urine container and the samples were
taken to the laboratory for creatinine and electrolytes in urine (sodium and potassium) analysis.
Blood samples.
At the end of drug and herbal treatment, all the rats were fasted overnight allowed free access to
water. At the morning of the next day, the rats were anesthetized by a combination of ketamine in a
dose of 75mg/kg with xylazine in a dose of 10 mg/kg intrapertoneally (IP) (Gallaly, 2012), then

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blood samples were taken from their hearts by direct cardiac puncture by the needle of a plastic
syringe.
Statistical Analysis
The results of serum and urine electrolytes concentrations, serum and urine creatinine concentration,
serum urea concentration, urine flow, sodium excretion rate, potassium excretion rate, glomerular
filtration rate, percentage of sodium reabsorbed of filtered load, blood pressure and heart rate of the
rats were analyzed statistically using SPSS software program package 21 and are expressed as mean ±
standard errors of means (M± SEM). Data analysis was made using one-way analysis of variables
(ANOVA). Comparison was made between groups using Duncan test and unpaired student t-test. A p
value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on blood pressure and heart rate in normal rats.
The blood pressure of normal rats treated with M. chamomilla was non-significantly higher than the
normal control rats (Table 1).
Table 1 Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on blood pressure and heart rate in normal
rats.
Parameters
Normal Rats (n=6)
Normal Rats /MC (n=6)
P value
Blood Pressure
(mmHg)
106 ±4
110 ±4
0.347
Heart Rate
(Beats/minute)
333 ±41
359 ±10
0.537
*MC: Matricaria chamomilla.
Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on urine flow, sodium excretion rate, potassium
excretion rate, GFR and % Na+ reabsorption of filtered load in normal rats.
The urine flow of the normal rats treated with 15% decoction of M. chamomilla was significantly
higher than the normal rats that did not receive the plant decoction, (Table 2). Sodium excretion rate,
was significantly increased in normal rats received M. chamomilla decoction. There was a slight and
non-significant elevation in Potassium excretion rate of normal rats received M. chamomilla
decoction, (Table 2). Glomerular filtration rate was significantly increased in M. chamomilla treated
rats by four folds in comparison to non-treated normal rats. The percentage of sodium ion
reabsorption was not significantly increased in the normal rats following daily administration M.
chamomilla decoction, (Table 2).

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Table 2. Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on urine flow, sodium excretion rate,
potassium excretion rate, GFR and % Na+ reabsorption of filtered load in normal rats.
Parameters
Normal Rats (n=6)
Norm4al Rats /MC (n=6)
P value
Urine flow
(ml/min/kg)
0.0144 ±0.0015
0.0348 ±0.0037
0.001
Na+ excretion rate
(μEq/min/kg)
2.98 ±0.54
11.5 ±1.43
0.001
K+ excretion rate
(μEq/min/kg)
0.7 ±0.21
1.11 ±0.12
0.057
GFR (ml/min/kg)
0.20 ±0.04
2.76 ±0.44
0.04
%Na+ Reabsorption
of filtered load
88.5 ±2.15
96.7 ±0.5
0.087
* MC: Matricaria chamomilla, GFR: Glomerular filtration rate.
Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on urinary sodium, potassium and creatinine
concentration in normal rats.
Urinary Na+ concentration of rats treated with M. chamomilla decoction was increased significantly
in comparison to normal rats who did not receive, while urinary K+ concentration was slightly and
non-significantly decreased (Table 3). Urinary creatinin concentration was significantly increased in
M. chamomilla treated rats compared to the non-treated rats (Table 3).
Table 3. Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on urinary electrolytes and creatinine
concentrations in normal rats.
Parameters
Normal Rats (n=6)
Normal Rats/MC (n=6)
P value
Urinary Na+ (mEq/L)
200.16 ±17.93
327.16 ±16.81
0.008
Urinary K+ (mEq/L)
46.36 ±12.5
32.16 ±0.6
0.299
Urinary Cr. (mg/dl)
8.27 ±1.06
44.16 ±2.3
0.000
*MC: Matricaria chamomilla.

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Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on serum electrolytes and serum urea and
creatinine concentration in normal rats.
Serum sodium (Na+) concentration of normal rats treated with M. chamomilla was slightly and non-
significantly decreased, whereas serum potassium (K+) level was significantly increased, (Table 4).
Daily administration of M. Chamomilla had no significant effect on serum creatinine (S. Cr.) and
serum urea concentrations in normal rats (Table 4).
Table 4. Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) on serum electrolytes and serum urea and
creatinine concentration in normal rats.
Parameters
Normal rats (n=6)
Normal rats/ MC (n=6)
P value
S. Na+ (mEq/L)
142.3 ±0.84
138.5 ±2.04
0.279
S. K+ (mEq/L)
4.28 ±0.09
6.4 ±0.397
0.022
S. Cr. (mg/dl)
0.6 ±0.44
0.58 ±0.65
0.28
S. Urea (mg/dl)
43.5 ±3.33
20.3 ±2.29
0.423
* MC: Matricaria chamomilla.
Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5 mg/kg) on blood pressure and heart rate
in hypertensive rats.
Matricaria Chamomilla decoction did not reduce blood pressure of hypertensive rats, but it
significantly reduced the heart rate. Whereas chlorthalidone could significantly decrease both blood
pressure and heart rate of hypertensive rats (Table 5).
Table 5. Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5mg/kg) on blood pressure and
heart rate in hypertensive rats.
Parameters
Hypertensive Rats
(n=6)
Hypertensive/MC
(n=6)
Hypertensive/CLTD
(n=6)
Blood Pressure
(mm.Hg)
121 ±1.86
a
123±3.79
a
107± 1.83
b
Heart Rate
(bpm)
407 ±11.66
a
355 ±10.87
b
337 ±11.54
b
MC: Matricaria Chamomilla. CLTD: Chlorthalidone.

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Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15% W/V) and CLTD (5 mg/kg) on urine flow, sodium
excretion rate, potassium excretion rate, GFR and % Na+ reabsorption of filtered load in
hypertensive rats.
Urine flow of hypertensive rats receiving 15% decoction of M. chamomilla was slightly and non-
significantly increased. Whereas in hypertensive rats that received chlorthalidone, urine flow was
significantly increased (Table 6,).
Urinary sodium and potassium excretion rates of the hypertensive rats receiving M. chamomilla
decoction was non-significantly changed, while CLTD significantly increased both urinary sodium
and potassium excretion rates in hypertensive rats. (Table 6). Glomerular filtration rate in
hypertensive rats receiving M. chamomilla or chlorthalidone was non-significantly changed, as
shown in Table (3.6). Furthermore, both M. chamomilla and chlorthalidone had no detectable effects
on % Na+ reabsorption of filtered load in the hypertensive rats Table (6).
Table 6. Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5 mg/kg) on urine flow, sodium
excretion rate, potassium excretion rate, GFR and % Na+ reabsorption of filtered load in
hypertensive rats.
Parameters
Hypertensive rats
(n=6)
Hypertensive/ MC
(n=6)
Hypertensive/
CLTD (n=6)
Urine flow
(ml/min/kg)
0.0283± 0.0044
a
0.0316± 0.0043
a
0.055 ± 0.0073
b
Na+ excretion rate
(μEq/min/kg)
9.2±1.69
a
9.26 ±1.42
a
16.5 ±2.15
b
K+ excretion rate
(μEq/min/kg)
0.74 ±0.14
a
0.958± 0.13
a
1.66±0.18
b
GFR
(ml/min/kg)
0.99 ±0.18
a
2.24 ±0.5
a
2.2 ±0.7
a
% Na+ reabsorption
of filtered load
93.56 ±0.59
a
95.59±1.37
a
91.96 ± 1.6
a
MC: Matricaria chamomilla. CLTD: Chlorthalidone, GFR: glomerular filtration rate.

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Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5mg/kg) on urinary sodium, potassium
and creatinine concentration in hypertensive rats.
Urinary Na+ concentration of hypertensive rats treated with M. chamomilla or chlorthalidone were
non-significantly changed. Table (7). Whereas, urinary K+ concentrations of the hypertensive rats
received chamomile or chlorthalidone were slightly and significantly increased Table. (7).
Urinary creatinin concentration in hypertensive rats that received M. chamomilla decoction or
chlorthalidone were significantly higher than that of non-treated group. Table (7).
Table 7. The effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5 mg/kg) on urinary
electrolytes and creatinin concentration in hypertensive rats.
Parameters
Hypertensive Rats
(n=6)
Hypertensive/MC
(n=6)
Hypertensive/CLTD
(n=6)
Urinary Na+
(mEq/L)
319.83±14
a
290 ±9.29
a
300 ±5.73
a
Urinary K+
(mEq/L)
26 ±1.8
a
30.3 ±0.88
b
30.6 ±1.02
b
Urinary Cr.
(mg/dl)
22 ±1.77
a
60 ±9.7
b
39 ±10.27
ab
Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5 mg/kg) on serum electrolytes and
serum urea and creatinine concentration in hypertensive rats.
Serum Na+ concentrations of hypertensive rats treated with M. chamomilla and chlorthalidone were
significantly lower than non-treated hypertensive rats. Table (8).
Serum K+ concentration of the hypertensive rats received M. chamomilla was significantly increased,
but in chlorthalidone treated rats, serum potassium concentration non significantly has been changed
(Table 8).
Serum Creatinine concentration in hypertensive rats that received M. chamomilla decoction was non-
significantly higher than the non-treated group. While in hypertensive rats receiving chlorthalidone,
serum creatinine was significantly higher than the non-treated group (Table 8).
Serum urea concentration in hypertensive rats treated with M. chamomilla was non- significantly
increased, whereas in chlorthalidone treated group the serum urea concentration was increased
significantly (Table 8).

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Table 8. Effects of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5mg/kg) on serum electrolytes
and serum urea and creatinine concentration in hypertensive rats.
Parameters
Hypertensive Rats
(n=6)
Hypertensive/MC
(n=6)
Hypertensive/CLTD
(n=6)
S. Na+ (mEq/L)
146.5 ±0.88
a
135 ±2.65
b
135.8± 0.54
b
S. K+ (mEq/L)
3.85 ±0.07
a
5.38 ±0.43
b
3.98 ± 0.08
a
S. Cr. (mg/dl)
0.63±0.016
a
0.96±0.2
ab
1.11± 0.17
b
S. Urea (mg/dl)
20 ±0.83
a
35± 6.8
a
40.83 ±6
b
*MC: Matricaria chamomilla. CLTD: Chlorthalidone.
Figure 3.12 Effect of M. chamomilla decoction (15%) and CLTD (5mg/kg) on serum sodium
concentration in hypertensive rats.
Discussion.
In this experimental animal model, normal and hypertensive rats were used in order to investigate the
effects of M. chamomilla and CTLD on the measured parameters for instance total urine volume,
urine and serum electrolytes concentration, and urinary potassium and sodium excretion rate.
In this study urine flow of normal rats significantly increased after receiving 15% M. chamomilla.
This increase in urine flow by this plant decoction could be linked to a number of possible
mechanisms, it might be because of inhibition of sodium reabsorption, hence urinary sodium
concentration and urinary excretion rate of sodium is increased significantly, however it is not
related to the inhibition of antidiuretic hormone 12, as urine Na+ concentration and excretion rate
were increased significantly. Therefore, it can be suggested that the diuretic effect of M. chamomilla
is saluretic type, which indicates that the plant decoction has inhibited sodium reabsorption from the
renal tubules
In this study, glomerular filtration rate of normal rats receiving M. chamomilla was significantly
increased. This effect could be related to blocking of adenosine (A1) receptor, like theophylline,
therefore it increases urine output through increasing GFR and blocking NaCl reabsorption in the
proximal tubule and collecting duct 13 14.
Moreover, this rise in GFR induced by M. chamomilla decoction could be related to active
substances which may dilate afferent renal arterioles as do many calcium channel antagonists for
example nifedipine, nicardipine, and verapamil 15, or constricting renal efferent arterioles, In the

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efferent arteriole, Ang II appears to stimulate Ca2+ entry via store-operated Ca2+ influx (Loutzenhiser
and Loutzenhiser, 2000), resulting in an increase in GFR (Hall, 2011).
In the present study, M. chamomilla decoction (15%) non significantly increased the percentage of
sodium reabsorption of filtered load of normal rats, because of increased sodium filtration as a result
of increased GFR.
Serum sodium concentration was not significantly changed as plasma concentration of Na+ should
remain constant due to effect of various hormones and enzymes, and because of osmotic properties
of plasma, as plasma osmolality is determined by plasma sodium 16.
In normal rats that administered M. chamomilla decoction urinary excretion rate of potassium was
non-significantly increased, due to the rise in urine flow, but their urinary potassium concentration
was non-significantly decreased. This indicates that M. chamomilla constituents increase sodium
excretion more than potassium. On the other hand, M. chamomilla decoction significantly increased
serum potassium concentration of normal rats, that it could cause hyperkalemia.
This diuretic activity of M. chamomilla is not attributed to blocking of aldosterone secretion because
this plant and unlike spironolactone 17, its diuretic activity was appeared after two hours. While the
aldosterone antagonist's diuretic effect usually appears after longer time, because they compete
aldosterone for mineralocorticoid receptor, which is an intracellular receptor of the nuclear receptor
family located in the kidneys, it modulates DNA transcription, causing synthesis of protein mediators
as the mechanism of gene transcription, thereby inhibiting distal Na+ retention and K+ secretion 18.
This increase in serum potassium indicates that the diuretic effect of M. chamomilla does not
resemble the action of the loop diuretic, such as furosemide, which acts in the thick ascending limb
of loop of Henle where it acts by inhibiting the Na+/K+/2Cl- co-transport carrier in the luminal
membrane, in which it increases the urine output followed by increased urinary excretion of
electrolytes, mainly Na+, K+, and Cl- (HL et al., 2015). Therefore, it can be suggested that the
diuretic activity of extract could be resemble the directly acting potassium-sparing diuretics such as
amiloride and triametrene (Tamargo et al., 2014), as they act on the late distal tubules and collecting
ducts, inhibiting Na+ reabsorption by blocking luminal sodium channels and decreasing K+ excretion
19. This could be related to high flavonoids content, that's similar to potassium sparing diuretics 20.
In the current study, blood urea and serum creatinine of normal rats administered chamomile
decoction were non-significantly decreased. Whereas urine creatinine concentration was significantly
increased. These indicate that M. chamomilla extract is safe in renal diseases and has beneficial
effects on kidney function (Schneider et al., 2016).
Studies that have done in last decades on plants to investigate their diuretic activity have
demonstrated that diuretic effect of the plants could be attributed to several compounds such as

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flavonoids, saponins or organic acids, 21. There is a relationship between the presence of these polar
secondary metabolites and their diuretic activity, which can produce diuresis they could have contact
with renal tissues 22.
There are several mechanisms that contribute to the hypertensive effect of dietary salt, including
water and salt retention, vascular abnormalities, and/or neurogenically mediated increases in
peripheral resistance 23. There are sequential steps by which salt intake influences arterial blood
pressure. They include an effect on plasma sodium concentration and extracellular fluid volume
(ECF). The greater rise in plasma sodium of sodium loaded rats, is due to a defect in the kidney's
ability to excrete salt and to regulate extracellular fluid volume 24.
In the current study, urine flow of hypertensive rats receiving 15% M. chamomilla decoction was
non-significantly increased. Which indicates that chamomile may have mild diuretic activity? In
hypertensive rats that received chlorthalidone, urine flow was significantly increased as a result of
increased water and sodium excretion rate, because it is a benzothiazide, which is a diuretic that
exerts its action by blocking the Na+ –Cl- cotransporter in the luminal membrane of the distal
convoluted tubule leading to a modest natriuresis and diuresis respectively25. However, urinary
sodium concentration of hypertensive rats received M. chamomilla or chlorthalidone was non-
significantly decreased.
In this study, GFR of hypertensive rats that received M. chamomilla decoction or CLTD, was non-
significantly increased. Neither chamomile nor chlorthalidone had detectable effect on the
percentage of reabsorbed sodium of filtered load.
In this study hypertensive rats received CLTD or M. chamomilla decoction significantly decreased
serum sodium concentration. Because hyponatremia is seen within the first weeks of the start of
chlorthalidone treatment (Liamis et al., 2016), this effect is related to inhibition of sodium
reabsorption in the renal tubules.
In addition to hyponatremia, hypokalemia was seen in CLTD treated hypertensive rats, and this
thiazide-induced hypokalemia is related to the delivery of large amount of Na+ in the late distal
tubule and collecting duct and this promotes a transcellular exchange (transcellular shift) between K+
and Na+ as chlorothiazides inhibit sodium reabsorption only in distal tubules26.
In the current study, urinary creatinine concentration of hypertensive rats received M. chamomilla
decoction was significantly increased. However, their serum creatinine and serum urea have not been
changed significantly. This indicates that M. chamomilla is safe during renal disorders 27. Serum
creatinine and blood urea of hypertensive rats treated with chlorthalidone were slightly significantly
increased but it was within normal range.

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In this study unlike chlorthalidone, administration of M. chamomilla had no significant effect on
blood pressure of neither normal nor hypertensive rats. As it possesses a mild diuretic activity, and
could not counteract the hypertensive effects of sodium load. However, it significantly decreased HR
of hypertensive rats. This decrease in heart rate has no effects on blood pressure, as heart rate and
unlike to an increase in cardiac contractility, it has minimum effects on maintaining blood pressure13.
This negative chronotropic effect of chamomile could be attributed to the direct effect of some its
active constituents on SA node, like ivabradine which has been shown to have similar effects on HR
in other species including rabbits, rats, dogs, and human
Conclusion: Chamomile has mild diuretic activity in normal rats and its effects resemble that of
potassium sparing diuretics.
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