Abstract

A REVIEW ON DIFFERENT IN VIVO SCREENING METHODS FOR EVALUATING ANTIUROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY

Meril Grace Mathew* and Emily James

ABSTRACT

The process of forming stones in the kidney, bladder, and/or urethra (urinary tract) is called as Urolithiasis. The major symptom of kidney stones that obstruct the ureter or renal pelvis is intermittent pain that radiates from the flank to the groin or to the genital area and inner thigh. The stone type is named after its mineral composition. The most common stones are calcium based stone, struvite, cystine, uric acid and drug induced stone. Preventative measures depend on the type of stones. Kidney stone formation or urolithiasis is a complex process that results from a succession of several physicochemical events including supersaturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation, and retention within the kidney. The treatments used are extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The data from in vivo and in vitro studies reveal that phytotherapeutic agents may be useful as alternative or an adjunctive therapy in the management of urolithiasis. The present review article discuss about different in vivo animal models of urolithiasis and mechanisms behind their induction.

Keywords: Urolithiasis, Kidney stones, calcium oxalate, in vivo methods, hyperoxaluria.