Abstract
The effect of rhubarb extract on the urinary constituents was examined in rats with renal failure induced by adenine. Administration of the rhubarb extract markedly increased the urinary excretion of both urea and creatinine, indicating an improvement of renal clearance in the uremic state. Furthermore, a number of significant differences in the amino acid levels in the urine were observed. Among the essential amino acids, the urinary outputs of threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, and methionine were remarkably lower in the rhubarb extract-treated group than in the control group. Outputs of inessential amino acids (alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, serine, aspartic acid, tyrosine, and cysteine) were also strikingly reduced after the treatment. In addition. the amount of urinary Ca was significantly reduced in the rhubarb extract-treated rats. while urinary inorganic phosphate was significantly elevated. A marked decrease of 2, 8-dihydroxyadenine excretion in the urine was noticed. However, no changes were seen in the urinary excretions of protein, glucose, Na, and K throughout the experimental period.
