Urolithic property of Varuna (Crataeva nurvala): An experimental study

Crataeva nurvala Bark (Capparidaceae) Extract Modulates Oxidative Stress-Related Gene Expression, Restores Antioxidant Enzymes, and Prevents Oxidative Stress in the Kidney and Heart of 2K1C Rats

Objective

Crataeva nurvala is a medicinal plant, which contains a wide range of polyphenolic and bioactive compounds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the renal-protective activity of Crataeva nurvala in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) rats.

Methods

In this study, the ethanol extract of Crataeva nurvala bark at a dose of 100 mg/kg was orally used to treat 2K1C rats for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, all rats were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected for further biochemical and histological assessments.

Results

This investigation showed that Crataeva nurvala treatment prevented the kidney dysfunction in 2K1C rats. Uric acid and creatinine concentration and CK-MB activities increased in 2K1C rats which were normalized by Crataeva nurvala. 2K1C rats also showed increased oxidative stress, depicted by the elevated level of MDA, NO, and APOP in plasma and tissues. Oxidative stress parameters declined in 2K1C rats by the treatment of Crataeva nurvala. These results could be attributed to the restoration of antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase and SOD. Crataeva nurvala extracts also upregulated antioxidant gene expression in the kidneys of 2K1C rats. Moreover, several anti-inflammatory genes were suppressed by Crataeva nurvala treatment in 2K1C rats. Furthermore, fibrosis and collagen deposition in the kidneys were also lowered by the treatment of the Crataeva nurvala extract.

Conclusion

The experimental data suggest that the Crataeva nurvala extract protected renal damage and oxidative stress, probably by restoring antioxidant enzymes activities in 2K1C rats.

Management of Mutrashmari (urolithiasis) with Palasha Kshara and Ashmarihara Kwatha: An open-labelled placebo-controlled clinical trial

Background

Mutrashmari (urolithiasis), a pathological condition of the urinary system where aggregation of urinary crystalloids takes place anywhere in the urinary tract, i.e., from the kidney to urinary bladder showing male preponderance (male:female = 2:1) and now becoming medico-surgical as well as economical challenge for all health-care systems.

Aims

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Palasha Kshara (alkali) with Ashmarihara Kwatha (decoction) in the management of Mutrashmari (urolithiasis).

Materials and method

Thirty-nine patients of Mutrashmari were selected and randomly allocated with a computerized randomized method into two groups. In trial group A (n = 20), capsule Palasha Kshara (Mridu), 500 mg three times a day after meal, and Ashmarihara Kwatha (decoction) (40 ml twice daily) were given orally after meals for 2 months. In placebo control group B (n = 19), placebo capsule (granulated wheat), was given in a dosage of 500 mg along with 3-4 l of water for 2 months.

Results

Patients of Palasha Kshara and Ashmarihara Kwatha group showed better relief in chief complaints, i.e., pain and increased frequency of micturition as compared to the placebo group. Complete remission of symptoms of Mutrashmari was more in patients treated with Palasha Kshara with Ashmarihara decoction.

Conclusion

Palasha Kshara with Ashmarihara Kwatha is found more effective than placebo in the management of Mutrashmari (urolithiasis).

Ameliorative effect of a standardized polyherbal combination in methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat

Context: Nephrotoxicity is a renal dysfunction that arises from direct exposure to environmental chemicals or as a side effect of therapeutic drugs. Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (Nyctaginaceae), Rheum emodi Wall. Ex. Meissn. (Polygonaceae), Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nelumbonaceae) and Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham. (Capparidaceae) are well-recognized medicinal plants of Indian traditional system of medicine used for kidney disorders.Objectives: The present investigation was undertaken to develop a chromatographically characterized polyherbal combination and to evaluate its nephroprotective activity.Materials and methods: Roots of B. diffusa and R. emodi, flowers of N. nucifera and stem bark of C. nurvala were extracted by decoction using 70% ethanol. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the optimization of extraction parameters. Polyherbal combinations with different doses (150-300 mg/kg) were tested against methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.Results: The optimized extract contained 27% phenols and 15% flavonoids, which showed 75% 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging potential. Based on the retention time of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, 17 out of 122 constituents were found common in all extracts and combinations. Two combinations showed significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) DPPH scavenging potential and xanthine oxidase inhibition. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of the best combination for DPPH scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibition were 80 and 74 µg/mL, respectively. Treatment of methotrexate-induced nephrotoxic rats with polyherbal combination significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved the kidney function markers, oxidative stress markers and histological parameters.Discussion and conclusion: The developed combination was found to be effective in nephrotoxicity; it can be explored further for the management of drug-induced nephrotoxicity and other chronic kidney diseases.

Botanical description, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacology of Crataeva nurvala Buch. Ham.: an updated review

Background

Crataeva nurvala Buch. Ham., an important medicinal plant of the Capparidaceae family, is widely distributed in India and tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It has been reported for its folkloric use in various disorders such as blood purifier, breathing problems, fever, metabolic disorders, wound healing, memory loss, and weak immune system.

Results

The present review has focused on the botanical description and ethnomedicinal and traditional uses of C. nurvala along with its reported pharmacological activities. Chief chemical constituents and pharmacological aspects of C. nurvala have been deeply explored to unravel the unexplored folklore/ethnomedicinal uses of this plant so that the researchers working on this plant may be able to find new insights to continue further investigation on this plant. The pharmacological aspects like anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-diarrheal, anti-fertility, anti-pyretic, and anti-cancer potentials evaluated by various in vitro/in vivo methods on this plant have been reported.

Conclusion

Various traditional uses have been reported that need to be scientifically investigated in depth and several pharmacological activities have been reported for the C. nurvala, but more detailed and mechanism-based studies linked to a particular lead compound need to be targeted in the future. Moreover, this plant has not been completely assessed on the basis of its safety and efficacy on humans. It is expected that this review will compile and improve the existing knowledge on the potential utilization of C. nurvala in complementary and alternative medicine.

Progress and prospects in the management of kidney stones and developments in phyto-therapeutic modalities

The aim of this article was to review some of the new and commonly used medicinal plants in the treatment of kidney stones, emphasizing medicinal uses, pharmacological activity, and research study of medicinal plants. Renal stones are a common problem worldwide with substantial morbidities and economic costs. The high economic burden associated with kidney stones is linked mainly with healthcare costs. In vitro and in vivo studies on alternative treatment of kidney stones have been searched by using words such as phytotherapy of kidney stones, medicinal plants used in kidney stones, and lithotriptic activity of plants. Articles reviewed showed that medicinal plants have lithotriptic potential. Medicinal plants may be useful in treatment of kidney stones. This study was aimed to explore and elaborate the efficacy and availability of alternative treatment for kidney stones and to provide safe, cost effective, and efficacious management options as well as reduce the burden of disease. Cost effectiveness may enable improvements in treatment efficiency that can benefit patients and the healthcare system. Further randomized clinical trials should be conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants.

Evaluation of anti-urolithiatic activity of Pashanabhedadi Ghrita against experimentally induced renal calculi in rats

Population in an industrialized world is afflicted by urinary stone disease. Kidney stones are common in all kinds of urolithiasis. One distinguished formulation mentioned by Sushruta for management of Ashmari (urolithiasis) is Pashanabhedadi Ghrita (PBG), which is in clinical practice since centuries. Validation of drug is the requirement of time through the experimental study. In this study, trial of PBG has been made against ammonium oxalate rich diet and gentamicin injection induced renal calculi in albino rats. The calculi were induced by gentamicin injection and ammonium oxalate rich diet. Test drug was administered concomitantly in the dose of 900 mg/kg for 15 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed on the 16^th day. Parameters like kidney weight, serum biochemical, kidney tissue and histopathology of kidney were studied. Concomitant treatment of PBG attenuates blood biochemical parameters non-significantly, where as it significantly attenuated lipid peroxidation and enhanced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activities. It also decreased crystal deposition markedly into the renal tubules in number as well as size and prevented damage to the renal tubules. The findings showed that PBG is having significant anti-urolithiatic activities against ammonium oxalate rich diet plus gentamicine injection induced urolithiasis in rats.