Diuretic Activity and Cytotoxic Study of Various Extracts of Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum has been in practice traditionally for a multitude number of human diseases. In vivo study in BALC/c mice was conducted for the investigation of diuretic potential of this mushroom. The diuretic property was studied against Furosemide 40mg/kg, a standard drug. The results of aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum at doses 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were 1.8 ±0.45ml and 2.1 ± 0.11ml respectively i.e slight increase; while the results of methanolic extract at doses 300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were 3.4± 0.27 ml and 5.1±0.11mli.e the most promising result compared to control which resulted as 1.48 ± 2.44ml, while for positive control was recorded as 5.32± 0.44ml. It was also observed that the aqueous extract killed the brine shrimp with percentage lethality/mortality of 60%, 50% and 43.33% at a concentration of 1000, 100 and 10ppm respectively and the methanol extract percentage mortality/lethality was 70%, 60% and 50% at concentrations of 1000, 100 and 10ppm respectively. It concludes that methanolic extract has more diuretic capability and not having any significant cytotoxicity.