Fruits of Crataegus songarica K. Koch. (Rosaceae) are commonly used in folk medicine for their diuretic properties to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure. To date, no scientific data has been published to support the diuretic potential.The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and mechanism underlying the hypotensive and diuretic action of C. songarica in normotensive rats and to determine the constituents from the extracts by LC-DAD-MS.Firstly, phytochemical profiling and antioxidant potential of C. songarica extracts was determined. Then, to evaluate changes in blood pressure, different groups of anesthetized normotensive rats were intravenously treated with crude extract (CS-Cr, 10-80 mg/kg), aqueous soluble (AS-CS, 0.1-20 mg/kg), and n-butanol soluble fractions of C. songarica (BS-CS, 1-80 mg/kg). The diuretic effects of CS-Cr (100-500 mg/kg, p.o), AS-CS (100-300 mg/kg, p.o) and BS-CS (100-300 mg/kg, p.o) were evaluated in comparison with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, 10 mg/kg, p.o). The urinary volume, sodium, potassium and pH were estimated in the sample collected for 6 h from saline-loaded rats. Using pharmacological antagonists or inhibitors, we determine the involvement of acetylcholine, prostaglandins, and nitric oxide in C. songarica induced hypotensive and diuresis action. In addition, the activities of angiotensin converting enzyme, erythrocytary carbonic anhydrase and renal Na+/K+/ATPase were evaluated in vitro.From the LC-DAD-MS analyses, thirty-nine compounds were detected, showing a complex chemical profile and an expressive antioxidant activity "in vitro". Acute treatment with CS-Cr, AS-CS, and BS-CS exhibited significant hypotensive and diuretic potential in normotensive rats. However, AS-CS produced most potent and significant dose-dependent hypotension in normotensive rats, and also produced highly significant diuretic and saluretic effects. Despite the changes in urinary excretion of electrolytes, the plasmatic levels of sodium and potassium were not changed. Previous treatment with atropine and L-NAME significantly reduced the hypotensive and diuretic action of AS-CS in normotensive rats. Moreover, the 7-day treatment with AS-CS also resulted in significant ACE inhibitory activity.This research supports and extends the ethnomedicinal use of C. songarica as diuretic and hypotensive agent. The results showed that AS-CS from C. songarica could present compounds responsible for hypotensive and diuretic activities with no signs of toxicity, and these effects could involve nitric oxide pathway activated by muscarinic receptors or/and inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme.
