CLINICAL ABSTRACT: PHASE II Clinical Trial of Sambong as Diuretic

The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Sambong as a diuretic, compared to hydrochlorthiazide in patients with edema. A total of 9 patients were given Sambong, while 5 were given hydrochlorthiazide. The age range in sambong group was 20 – 59 years with a mean of 44.3 years, and 43 – 75 years and a mean of 57.4 years for hydrochlorthiazide group, with the majority being females in both groups. The causes of edema among the subjects were Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension and some with undetermined etiology. 24-hour urine output, urinalysis, blood chemistry, EKG were determined pre- and post- drug administration for both groups. There was an increase in the 24-hour urine output in both treatment groups; a mean value of 1167 mL on Day 2 (pre-dosing) and 1867 mL on Day 3 (post-. dosing) for Sambong was demonstrated, with a increase of 699 mL or 59.89%, which was statistically significant. In the Thiazide group, pre-treatment 24-hour urine volume was 1158 mL and post-treatment was 2196 mL, with a mean increase of 1038 mL or 89.6%, which was also statistically significant. The serum electrolyte level changes induced by either sambong or thiazides were not statistically significant in both pre-and post-dosing determinations. No untoward effects on blood pressure and other vital signs were noted during sambong and thiazides administration.



Both treatment groups yielded statistically significant results with p values less than or equal to 0.05, but compared to each other, there was no statistically significant difference. This means that the efficacy of sambong as a diuretic was comparable to that of thiazides.