Effect of Aqueous Extracts From Therapeutic Plants From Indigenous Ayurvedic System on in vitro Calcium Oxalate Crystallization in Human Urine

Urolithiasis is the most painful disorder associated with formation of stone in the urinary system. In Indian Ayurvedic system, medicinal plants are preferred as natural drug resources. In the present study, aqueous extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.), Tribulus terrestris (L.), Phyllanthus niruri (L.), Abutilon indicum (L.) and tri-sodium citrates were used to investigate their antilithiatic potential for in vitro crystallization of calcium oxalate crystals (CaOx) in the urine assay. With this, we conclude that presence of T. terrestris extract showed the highest reduction in CaOx crystal size (2.70±0.41 μm2) and number (4.33±0.33) with the lowest IC50 (0.264 mg/ml) as compared to other plants in human urine (pH 6.0) with the minimum number of Calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) 5.66±0.66. The experiment confirms the potential of therapeutic plant extracts in dissolving the sharp ends of Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals (COM) making them oval to circular and facilitating their easy exit through urinary tract.