ANTI-UROLITHIASIS AND DIURETIC ACTIVITIES OF GREWIA FLAVESCENS ROOTS.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Grewia flavescens (AEGF and MEGF respectively) on kidney stones using in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro anti-urolithiasis activity was performed by different assays like nucleation, crystal growth, crystal aggregation, and crystal dissolution assays were performed and cell viability studies were performed on the MDCK cell line before and after exposure to oxalate. An HPTLC and HPLC method was developed for the quantification of diosgenin, catechin, rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin in extract. For an in vivo study, performed a diuretic activity model and sodium oxalate-induced urolithiasis in male Wistar albino rats. Determination of body and kidney weight, measurement of various biochemical parameters in biological samples, and examination of histology of the kidney at the end of the experiment were also done. AEGF and MEGF exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory activity on nucleation and aggregation along with a decreased number of calcium oxalate crystals produced in calcium oxalate metastable solutions in the in vitro experiments. Cell line study showed that extracts showed cell viability in the presence of oxalate. Co-administration of AEGF and MEGF with sodium oxalate has significantly (p<0.001) increased the urine volume and the level of calculus inhibitors and decreased the level of calculus promoters. HPTLC and HPLC data showed that extracts contain catechin, rutin, gallic acid, and quercetin. These results data indicate that AEGF and MEGF showed significant activity in urolithiasis which might be due to their diuretic, crystal formation inhibitory effects and their ability to increase the levels of inhibitors and decrease the level of promoters of urolithiasis due to the presence of active constituents in extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]