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Urinary stones are a growing disease that results from pathological biomineralization. Cassia fistula Lin. is traditionally used to treat urinary stones. However, no scientific evidence is available to prove its antilithiatic effect. This study evaluates the antilithiatic potential of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Cassia fistula Lin. fruit (Cff) against calcium oxalate kidney stones. Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6/group): Group I (control), Group II (rats treated with ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride developed nephrolithiasis after 28 days), Group III (lithiatic rats receiving distilled water for 30 days), Group IV and V (lithiatic rats receiving aqueous extract of Cff at doses of 1 and 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days, respectively) and Group VI and VII (lithiatic rats receiving ethanolic extract of Cff at doses of 1 and 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days, respectively). Some parameters of urine and serum, and also renal oxidative stress and histopathology were used to determine the antilithiatic effect of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Cff. Therefore, the types of extracts of Cff improved abnormal levels of urine, serum, and renal oxidative stress and histopathology parameters. This antilithiatic effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cff, can be attributed to the anti-crystallization and antioxidant properties of the extracts and the ability to improve urine and serum biochemistry. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride-induced urolithiasis, aggregation of calcium oxalate deposits, increase of some urinary and serum parameters, relative kidney weight, kidney size and MDA activity, decrease of some urinary parameters, relative body weight and SOD activity. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cassia fistula Lin. lead to the treatment of urolithic rats by decreasing levels of urinary oxalate, phosphate, urea, serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, MDA, kidney weight and kidney size, increasing levels of urinary calcium, creatinine, magnesium, citrate, body weight and SOD activity in the kidney, eliminating CaOx deposition (esp. ethanolic extract)., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The rhizome of Bergenia ligulata is referred by the Ayurvedic system for the treatment of kidney stone since decades and a few, in vitro and in vivo studies also support it. To identify the main phytochemical constituent(s) responsible for antilithiatic activity of its rhizome., Materials and Methods: In order to identify the most potent antilithiatic metabolite, the crude extract of rhizome was fractionated using in vitro Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal growth inhibitory activity guided fractionation followed by its characterization via LC-MS, FTIR and NMR. Further, the antioxidant potential of purified molecule was assessed using in vitro assays (FRAP and H2O2 scavenging). In vivo activity of the metabolite was evaluated in hyperoxaluric rats given 0.4% ethylene glycol (EG) and 1.0% ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) for 9 days., Results: Activity guided fractionation led to the isolation of most potent antilithiatic metabolite from the rhizome of Bergenia ligulata and spectroscopic analysis revealed it as bergenin. Bergenin showed reducing ability and H2O2 scavenging activity comparable with commercially available anitioxidant, α-tocopherol. At a dose of 10mg/kg body weight of the treated rat, it protected against deleterious effects of lithogenic treatment including weight loss, impaired renal function and oxidative stress, manifested as increased malondialdehyde, reduced redox ratio and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in the kidneys of hyperoxaluric rats. The creatinine clearance and kidney damage were more improved by bergenin as compared to crude extract of rhizome., Conclusions: Since, bergenin maintained oxidant/antioxidant balance in hyperoxaluric rats, thus mechanistic insight of its antilithiatic activity was attributed to the antioxidant capability of bergenin. The results of the present study provide significant evidence that bergenin is an active component present in the rhizome of Bergenia ligulata for managing CaOx calculi., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To evaluate the anti-lithiatic effect of Crataeva religiosa (a native plant) in wistar rats. 4 adult, male, wistar rats, fasted for 24 hours were divided into3 groups. Group I (Ia+Ib) received normal feed and water, Group II Hydrochlorothiazide (2.5mg/kg) and Group III received Ethanolic extract of Crataeva religiosa (EECR) 200mg/kg orally. Antilithiatic activity was studied by standard means, with addition of 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water daily for 28days in group Ib, II & III. Group Ia served as normal control, Group Ib served as lithiatic control. 24hours urinary calcium, magnesium, oxalate, phosphate, uric acid and protein were analysed on day 0, 14 and 28. Data were evaluated using student's 't'-test. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered significant. The animals of GII and III had significant reduction in urinary phosphate and urate, compared to animals exposed to ethylene glycol alone (G Ib). It is likely that HCT and EECR might have protected these animals, from the effects of ethylene glycol. Excessive urinary phosphate and urate excretion are the contributory factor for calcium phosphate and / or urate stones, as calcium excretion was also statistically higher in animal receiving ethylene glycol alone. These observations indicate that the plant extract have got significant antilithiatic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many medicinal plants have been employed during ages to treat urinary stones though the rationale behind their use is not well established. Recently, we have successfully purified an anticalcifying protein from the seeds of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turril (Umbelliferae) using oxalate depletion assay and deciphered its inhibitory activity against calcium oxalate crystal growth. Aim: In this report, the antilithiatic activity of Trachyspermum ammi anticalcifying protein (TAP) was studied in urolithiatic rat model. Methodology: Urolithiasis was induced by exposure of 0.4% ethylene glycol (EG) and 1.0% ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) for 9 days. The efficacy of TAP was studied in another group given same dose of EG and NH4Cl in addition to 2mg/kg body weight of TAP. Further, we evaluated ability of TAP to inhibit the attachment of calcium oxalate (CaO x ) crystal in kidney tissue and studied the consequences of CaO x adhesion on renal functioning and tissue integrity. Results: The antilithiatic potential of TAP was confirmed by its ability to maintain renal functioning, reduce renal injury and decrease crystal excretion in urine and retention in renal tissues. Conclusions: Thus, the present investigation suggests the potential of TAP in preventing calcium oxalate deposition and forms the basis for the development of antilithiatic drug interventions against urolithiasis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]