Pharmacognostical phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of salvadora persica for the treatment of lithiasis

Abstract

Lithiasis (kidney stone) is a common recurrent worldwide problem. Salvadora newlinepersica which belongs to the family Salvadoraceae, a plant commonly used as folklore newlinemedicine for Lithiasis in the southern parts of India. Relevant scientifically proven data newlinesupporting this claim were lacking and hence a detailed study using the leaves of this newlineplant was planned. Pharmacognostic studies of leaves of Salvadora persica have brought newlineto light microscopic features as well as preliminary phytochemical data of diagnostic newlinevalues. The alcoholic (95%) and aqueous extracts of leaf powder of S.persica were newlineevaluated for its inhibitory potential on Lithiasis (stone formation) induced by oral newlineadministration of 0.75% ethylene glycolated water to adult male albino wistar rats for 28 newlinedays. Alterations were observed in urinary concentration of crucial ions viz calcium, newlineoxalate and phosphate, serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, lipid peroxidation, activities of newlinetissue enzymic (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymic newline(glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E) antioxidants, along with an increased activity of newlineoxalate metabolizing enzymes GAO and LDH in hyperoxaluric group. These abnormal newlinebiochemical aberrations were attenuated with treatment of alcoholic and aqueous extracts newlineof S.persica in curative and preventive regimens (CR and PR). Histopathological findings newlinealso showed signs of improvement after treatment with the extracts both in the curative newlineand preventive regimens. Evaluation of biochemical parameters indicated that alcoholic newlineextract show evidence of more antilithiatic activity than aqueous extract. Consequently, newlinethe compounds present in the alcoholic extract of leaves of S.persica were isolated. newlineTriterpenes betulin and and#946;-amyrin were isolated from the alcoholic extract and newlinecharacterized by UV, IR, NMR and Mass spectroscopical studies. newlineAs very less quantity of betulin (0.0018%) was present in the leaf powder, and#946;- newlineamyrin (0.040%) was screened for antilithiatic activity using ethylene glycol induced newlinehyperoxaluria model.