Diuretic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Aristolochia indica Linn. in Rats R. Mohan Kumar 1 , M. Balakumaran 2 , P. Selvamani 3 , N. Subramanian 4 and K. Ruckmani 5 5 Author for correspondence, Prof & Head, Director – CENTRE, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, BIT Campus, Anna University, Tiruchirappalli-620024, Tamilnadu, India e-mail: 5 hodpharma@gmail.com, Mobile: +919842482568 Abstract: Aristolochia indica Linn is used in the traditional medicine as a diuretic. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of the plant of Aristolochia indica linn was studied, and the activity was compared with furosemide as standard. The doses 250 and 500 mg/kg bodyweight exhibit signifcant diuretic activity as evidence increased by total urine volume and the urine concentration of Na + , K + and Cl -. .These results that support the use of Aristolochia indica Linn. as a diuretic agent. Keywords: Aristolochia indica Linn, Diuretic, Furosemide, Aristolochiceae. INTRODUCTION: Several specious of the genus Aristolochia are employed in the folk medicine of many countries to treat a variety of diseases such as anthelmintic, stomachic, cardiotonic, purgative, anti-infammatory, diuretic, sudorifc, febrifuge, anti-periodic, emmenagogue and tonic [1]. The genus Aristolochia consisting of approximately 300 species is distributed throughout India at low elevations, on hedges and bushes and throughout the subcontinent, mainly in the plains and lower hilly regions from Nepal to Bangladesh. Leaves simple, alternate, short petioled, the blade ovate or somewhat wedge-shaped, very variable in shape and size. The young leaves are light purplish. Leaves are used to treat cholera, bowel complaints and intermittent fevers in childrens. The fresh juice of the leaves is a popular antidote to snake poison. A paste made of leaves is reported to be useful as a remedy for itches and insect; bites and can also be mixed with castor oil and applied to control eczema. The fowers greenish, white or light purplish in axillary cymes or fascicles with swollen or infated basal part. The fruit is a capsule, roundish or oblong and hexagonal, 2.5 - 4 cm long and slightly less broad, with shallow grooves and six valves, containing many triangular seeds. The young roots are light brown and fairly smooth, whereas the older ones are comparatively rough due to the development of cork, lenticles and the presence of scars of rootlets. The cork layer somewhat friable. In a freshly coloured strip, surrounding! A wide woody core. The wood has a light yellow colour and appears highly porous, with the pores being suffciently large to be easily visible with the naked eye; the medullary rays are soft and creamy white in colour; there is no pith in the centre. The root is pungent, bitter, alexiteric, emmenagogue, useful in “tridosha,” bowel troubles of children [2]. Tuberous roots are crushed and applied on the body for treating itching [3]. Here the presence study has been undertaken to investigate the diuretic properties of ethanolic extract of Aristolochia indica (EEAI) in standard animal models.