Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIUROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES (MART.) SOLMS WHOLE PLANT

M. Revathi* and Dr. R. Indumathy

ABSTRACT

A kidney stone, also known as a renal calculus is a solid concretion or crystal aggregation formed in the kidneys from dietary minerals in the urine. Urolithiasis is a complex process that occurs from series of several physicochemical event including super-saturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation and retention within the kidneys. Data from invitro, in- vivo and clinical trials reveal that phyto therapeutic agents could be useful as either alternative or an adjuvant therapy in the management of Urolithiasis. Natural products are more useful for body because they promote the repair mechanism in natural way. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) solms have been reported to possess antiurolithiatic property. The whole plant powder was serially extracted in petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. In vitro study was conducted to assess antiurolithiatic effect of plant for all the extracts with standard drug namely, Cystone. Two methods, turbidity method and calcium oxalate dissolution methods were practiced to access the inhibition of stone formation and dissolution of stone crystals respectively. Microscopic study was done for the comparative evaluation of crystal density and size in each treatment in turbidity method. Ethanolic extract of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) solms whole plant proved its potential effect equal to the standard drug, Cystone in dissolving the exiting calcium oxalate crystals. of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) solms ethanolic extract could dissolve 68% crystals while Cystone dissolved 70% calcium oxalate crystals in in vitro study. Plant extract also could inhibit up to 61.7 % aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals as compared to the Cystone with 71.4% by turbidity method.

Keywords: kidney stone, turbidity method, supersaturation, aggregation, Eichhornia crassipes.