Anti-urolithiatic Activities of Macrotyloma uniflorum Mediated through Multiple Pathway

Background: Macrotyloma uniflorum Linn. (Fabaceae) seeds are widely used for their diuretic and urolithiatic effects in India. The present study investigated the effect of n-butanol fraction of M. uniflorum (nBFMU) on kidney stone using in vitro and in vivo method. Materials and Methods: Nucleation, crystal growth, crystal aggregation and crystal dissolution assays were performed for nBFMU. Two doses of nBFMU (400 and 800 mg/kg) were studied for their diuretic activity and sodium oxalate (NaOx) (70 mg/kg, i.p) induced urolithasis in male Wistar albino rats. Determination of body and kidney weight, measurement of various biochemical parameters in biological samples and examination of histology of kidney at the end of experiment were also done. Results: nBFMU exhibited a concentration dependent inhibitory activity on nucleation and aggregation along with decreased number of crystals of calcium oxalate (CaOX) produced in metastable solutions of CaOX in the in vitro experiments. Co-administration of nBFMU with NaOX has significantly (p<0.001) increased the urine volume and the level of calculus inhibitors like magnesium, citrate and decreased the level of calculus promoters like oxalate, calcium, urea and uric acid. nBFMU supplement also prevented the pathological changes in kidney and increased the glomerulus activity of the kidney. Conclusion: These results indicate that nBFMU showed significant activity in urolithiasis which might be due to its diuretic, CaOX crystal formation inhibitory effects and its ability to increase the levels of inhibitors and decrease the level of promoters of urolithiasis.