Evaluation of Anti-urolithiatic Properties of Some Medicinal Plants from Manipur

Author: Khaling Mikawlrawng and Kananbala Sarangthem, Suresh Kumar and H. Nanaocha Sharma

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Abstract

The prevalence of urinary stones or urolithiasis is about 12% in India and has a higher prevalence of 15% in northern India. Approximately 98% of the patients are found to develop urolithiasis within 25 years of the first attack. Unfortunately, despite advances in treatment, there is still no satisfactory treatment that can cure urinary stones or reduce their recurrence. Medicinal plants have been known for thousands of years and are valued worldwide for being rich in chemical compounds that cure and prevent diseases. Medicinal plants are becoming increasingly popular because they are effective, non-toxic and have no side effects. Many studies have been reported in Manipur on the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of urolithiasis or kidney stones. The present article aims to analyze the anti-urolithiatic properties of four medicinal plants viz., Anneslea fragrans, Mallotus philipensis, Magnolia hodgsonii and Bauhinia acuminate which were documented for their use in traditional methods of treatment of kidney stone in Manipur. The selected plants were studied for their calcium oxalate (CaOx) anti-nucleation and anti-aggregation assay, 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, proteinase inhibition assay and anti-microbial study by agar disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli, a gram negative bacterium, and Staphylococcus aureus, and a gram positive bacterium. The studies were done in comparison with Cystone, which is a commercially available herbal formulation used in urinary stone disease. The results showed that amongst the four selected plants A. fragrans exhibited the highest percentage of Ca Oxnucleation and aggregation inhibition values of 41.86% and 56.67% respectively, which is approximately equivalent to the efficacy of Cystone. DPPH assay indicated that B. acuminata exhibited highest antioxidant property with IC50 value of 1.85mg/mL, which is substantially equal to that of Cystone. Moreover, B. acuminata and A. fragrans showed proteinase inhibition potential with IC50 values of 408 µg/mL and 420.75 µg/mL respectively, significantly superior to Cystone, but less effective than Aspirin. Antimicrobial studies indicated that M. hodgsonii was found to have higher zone of inhibition against S. aureus, whereas M. philipensis showed higher zone of inhibition against E. coli. The results of the present study showed important properties of the selected medicinal plants against urolithasis. It also calls for urgent need for scientific evaluation of important medicinal plants documented for urolithiasis.

Keywords

Anneslea fragrans, Bauhinia acuminata, kidney stone, Magnolia hodgsonii, Mallotus philipensis

Conclusion

Plant extracts are among the most promising sources for urolithiasis due to the presence of various phytochemicals. As multiple factors (nucleation, aggregation, inflammation, microbial infection, and decrease in anti-oxidative potential) are involved in kidney stone development, medicinal plants that exhibit good activities against these processes can be further selected for isolation of the bioactive compounds responsible for the bioactivity. Our research indicated that the anti-urolithiatic effects of A. fragrans might stem from its capabilities to inhibit CaOx nucleation and aggregation, along with having anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory characteristics. It can be suggested that the anti-urolithiatic properties of M. hodgsonii and M. philipensis could be attributed to their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potentials, while that of B. acuminata could be due to its anti-oxidative capabilities. As CaOx nucleation and aggregation are some of the initial steps in the process of kidney stone development, it is can suggested that further analysis of A. fragrans that exhibit significant anti-nucleation and anti-aggregation among the selected plants, will be useful for isolation of bioactive compounds responsible for the bioactivities observed. Also, based on the observed results, where B. acuminata showed good antioxidant properties, B. acuminata and A. fragrans showed high proteinase inhibition potential, the present study suggested that further research on the bioactive principles of these plants will be highly beneficial in the search for anti-urolithiatic agents from plants. Similar studies can be conducted for different medicinal plants which are traditionally used in urolithiasis. However, a thorough and conclusive result necessitates multidisciplinary strategy that combines different advanced scientific methods that will significantly assist in future research on the extraction of bioactive compounds that contribute to the observed medicinal traits in these plants.

References

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How to cite this article

Khaling Mikawlrawng and Kananbala Sarangthem, Suresh Kumar and H. Nanaocha Sharma (2023). Evaluation of Anti-urolithiatic Properties of Some Medicinal Plants from Manipur. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(6): 989-997.