Antinephrolithiatic Potential of Macrotyloma uniflorum Aqueous Extract in Rats

Urolithiasis is a major health problem with its high morbidity, high cost of management and potential for end-stage renal disease. The aim of our study is to cure and prevent the recurrent stone formation. Herbal drugs claim many promising remedies in urolithiasis. An attempt is made in this direction in the current work by using Macrotyloma uniflorum. The experimental model selected for the present study is subcutaneous administration of gentamicin (40mg/kg/day) for 8 days and dietary supplementation with 5% ammonium oxalate starting at day 5 of the treatment regimen to induce calcium oxalate urolithiasis. On administration of aqueous extract of Macrotyloma uniflorum in preventive and curative groups, moderate to few crystals are observed along the mild appearance of edema and dilation in tubules and crystals are present focally indicating the ability of aqueous extract of Macrotyloma uniflorum to dissolve the preformed stones. The parameters monitored in the present study are Kidney weight, calcium and oxalate deposition in kidney and the histological studies support the calcium and oxalate deposition data in kidney. Thus aqueous extract of Macrotyloma uniflorum showed significant antinephrolithiatic activity.