Ethnopharmacological relevance: Since ancient times, various herbal preparations have been used in treatment of urolithiasis, which is basically formation of calcium oxalate stones in kidney. The aim of our study is to assess the effects of seeds of Pongamia pinnata (PP) as a curative and preventive agent in experimentally induced urolithiasis model in rats.The activity of 150, 250, and 350 mg/kg PP extract was studied in 0.75% ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis for 28 days in rats. On 28 day, 24 h urine was collected from individual rats and used for estimation of urine calcium, phosphate and oxalate. The serum creatinine, urea and uric acid levels were estimated in each animal. The kidney homogenate was used for the estimation of renal oxalate contents. The paraffin kidney sections were prepared to observe the CaOx deposits.Urolithiasis caused a significant increase in both serum and urine biochemical parameters compared to healthy rats. PP extract decreased levels of these parameters. The paraffin kidney sections show significant histopathological changes. These results suggest that extract might be dose dependently effective in reduction and prevention of urolithiasis. Further, purification, substance identification and control studies of seed extract of Pongamia pinnta are necessary to identify mechanism of action and for safe and promising drug candidate for prevention of urolithiasis.
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