EFFECT OF FEW INDIGENOUS PLANT EXTRACTS ON CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALLIZATION WITH REFERENCE TO UROLITHIASIS

Preliminary screening study had employed to extract inhibitors of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization in-vitro from four plant species, namely Saraca asoca, Berginia ciliata, Boerhavia diffusa, and Crateva nurvala These plants were selected based on their frequent medicinal usage by folks. Plant material (150 g) used for this study was successively extracted with Soxhlet apparatus using the solvents in order of increasing polarity (ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and water). Each time the marc was dried and later extracted with other solvents. All the extracts were concentrated by distilling the solvent in a rotary vacuum evaporator. An extracts were prepared at different concentration (1 mg-10 mg/ml). Nucleation assay and aggregation assay of calcium oxalate crystals were measured using spectrophotometric methods. The plant extracts promoted the precipitation of calcium oxalate particles in buffer and inhibited calcium oxalate crystal aggregation which clearly indicates the antilithiatic activity of these plants. Phytocompounds present in this plant may be responsible for the anticrystallization activity. Statistical difference and percentage inhibitions were calculated and assessed. The results were compared with a marked polyherbal combination,cystone, under identical concentrations. Among all the plant extracts, the extract of B. ciliata was significantly more effective in inhibiting the nucleation and aggregation of COM crystals in a dose-dependent manner.