Antioxidant and Antiurolithiatic Efficacy of Aerva lanata (L) Fractions by in vitro and in vivo Screening Techniques

Background: Aerva lanata (L) Juss. Ex. Schult. (Amaranthaceae) commonly known as Pashanabheda is used traditionally in Indian system of medicines for various diseases including urolithiasis. Objective: Screening of bioactivity guided fractions of Aerva lanata (L) for antioxidant and antiurolithiatic potency. Materials and Method: The dried hydro alcoholic extract (10%) of the whole plant was fractionated with different organic solvents like dichloromethane (fraction I), ethyl acetate (fraction II), n-butanol (fraction III). Based on preliminary phytochemical tests, only two fractions (II and III) were tested for antioxidant efficacy by DPPH Radical Scavenging assay and antiurolitiathic potentials on male Wistar albino rats by administering ethylene glycol (0.75% v/v) by oral route. Urine and blood serum were collected from all the tested animals and analyzed for the presence of calcium, oxalate, magnesium, phosphate, and BUN. Both kidneys were isolated and subjected to histopathological study. Results: Antioxidant assay has revealed that the tested fractions were equally potent as that of the standard drugs (BHT and Vitamin C). The treatment with ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions significantly decreased the calcium, phosphate and BUN levels and increase in magnesium level in experimental rats (p<0.001). The urine analysis has also revealed significant (p<0.001) reduction in crystal size in the treated rats. Conclusion: The fractions (ethyl acetate and n-butanol) have shown significant antioxidant effect along with the Antiurolithiatic potency by reducing calculi through different pathways along with mild diuretic activity.