Anti-urolithiatic Activity of Extract of Andrographis paniculata Plant on Calcium Oxalate Crystals: an In vitro Preliminary Study

Abstract

Lithiasis is an agonizing disease that can be found all around the world. In Sri Lanka, the patients who are suffering from “lithiasis” are increasing gradually yearly. Uses of medicinal herbs as a cure for lithiasis are precious in folk and ayurvedic healing practices. Curing of ureteric calculi is still a challenge for modern medical practices; hence, the medicinal plants have become a hotspot in many disorders including lithiasis to avoid high expenditure and adverse side-effects which cause by the allopathic and western medications. To evaluate the in-vitro anti-urolithiatic activity of Andrographis paniculata plant extract. The methanolic extract prepared by the soxhlet extraction was used to evaluate anti-urolithiatic activity. To identify the chemical constituents, phytochemical analysis was carried out for ethanolic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts following the standard procedures. The titrimetric method was used to evaluate the anti-urolithiatic activity at four different concentrations. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic characterization was done to identify the functional groups present in the extract. Extract of Andrographis paniculata exhibited a greater capability towards the dissolution of calcium oxalate crystals than that of standard drug cystone. A significant correlation has indicated between dissolution percentage and the concentration of the samples at the 0.05 confidence level. Phytochemical analysis that explicated the presence of alkaloid, saponin, tannin, and flavonoid and FTIR spectrum show the peaks for the presence of alkene, amine, aromatic group, phenol, nitro groups, and alcoholic groups. This rudimentary research revealed that the methanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata exhibits anti-urolithiatic activity, and it has comparatively high dissolution ability than standard drug cystone.