The effects of vandellia cordifolia on renal functions and arterial blood pressure

Vandellia cordifolia (COLSM) G. DON of Scrophulariaceae (V. cordifolia) is an annual wild herb indigenous to Taiwan. It can be found in plains, low altitudes, swampy places, and paddy fields. Taiwanese folk physicians use it in "nephritis, uremia, furnucle, carbuncle." The LD50 (95% confidence limit) of the crude extract of V. codifolia given by the oral route was more than 10 g/kg in rats. By the intraperitoneal route, it was 4.6 g/kg (4.35-4.93). The extraction rate was 16.6%. We studied its effects on renal functions and blood pressure and found that (1) it had diuretic effect on normal rats, (2) it decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow on normal kidneys in rabbits, (3) it had no effects on glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow on glycerin-induced insufficient kidneys in rabbits, (4) it had diuretic effects on both normal and glycerin-induced insufficient kidneys in rabbits, (5) it could inhibit Na+ and K+ reabsorption on normal and glycerin-induced insufficient kidneys in rabbits, (6) it had hypertensive effect and this effect could be blocked by phenoxybenzamine. From the above facts, we conclude that V. cordifolia has diuretic effect and it may act on renal tubules to inhibit Na+ and K+ reabsorption.