An
aquaretic is a class of drug that is used to promote
aquaresisAquaresis is the excretion of water without electrolyte loss. It is preferable to diuresis in the treatment of hyponatremia....
. They are not strictly speaking
diureticA diuretic is any drug that elevates the rate of urination and thus provides a means of forced diuresis. There are several categories of diuretics...
s, but are sometimes classified as such.
Species
Herbal aquaretics include
adonisAdonis is a genus of about 20-30 species of flowering plants of the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe and Asia.The species grow to 10-40 cm in height, with feathery, finely divided leaves...
,
agrimonyAgrimony is a genus of 12-15 species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with one species also in Africa...
,
bearberryBearberries are three species of dwarf shrubs in the genus Arctostaphylos. Unlike the other species of Arctostaphylos , they are adapted to Arctic and sub-Arctic climates, and have a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia and Europe, one with a small highly disjunct population in...
,
buchuBuchu is the colloquial name given to a group of small, aromatic shrubs endemic to the Western Cape mountains of South Africa. Two species are cultivated on a commercial basis for their essential oils, Agathosma betulina and Agathosma crenulata...
,
dandelionTaraxacum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Europe and Asia, and two species, T. officinale and T. erythrospermum, are found as weeds worldwide. Both species are edible in their entirety...
, heartsease,
hydrangeaHydrangea is a genus of about 70-75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and North and South America. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan...
,
lady's mantleAlchemilla is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the Rosaceae, and a popular garden herb with the common name Lady's mantle. There are about 300 species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa,...
,
larchLarches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. They are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the far north, and high on mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada.They are...
, and
sassafrasSassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia....
.
Pharmacokinetics
These increase blood flow to the
kidneyThe kidneys are paired organs, which have the production of urine as their primary function. Kidneys are seen in many types of animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are part of the urinary system, but have several secondary functions concerned with homeostatic functions. ...
s without increasing
sodiumSodium is a metallic element with a symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1"...
and
chlorideThe chloride ion is formed when the element chlorine picks up one electron to form an anion Cl
−...
resorptionResorption is a process by which a structure is remodeled.Types include:* Bone resorption* Root resorption...
, thus causing an increase in urine whilst retaining electrolytes. However, the increase in
intravascularThe blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart, the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
fluid volume that they cause translates into an increase
vascularThe blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart, the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
resistance, and higher
blood pressureBlood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum and a minimum pressure...
.
Chemical constitutents
Synthetic aquaretics, a new class of drug, are V2 receptor
antagonistAn antagonist is a character, group of characters, or an institution, who represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
s, such as OPC-31260. Additional examples include
conivaptanConivaptan is a non-peptide inhibitor of antidiuretic hormone . It was approved in 2004 for hyponatremia caused by syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone , and there is some evidence it may be effective in heart failure...
,
demeclocyclineDemeclocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic.It is derived from a strain of Streptomyces aureofaciens.-In infections:...
, and
lithiumLithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number three. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
. These have been used in clinical trials as a treatment for
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormoneThe syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone hypersecretion is a condition commonly found in the hospital population, especially in patients being hospitalized for central nervous system injury. This is a syndrome characterized by excessive release of antidiuretic hormone from the...
(SIADH).