This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Solanum xanthocarpum fruit extract in ethylene-glycol-induced urolithiasis in the male Wistar rats. Nephrolithiasis was induced in male Wistar rats by adding ethylene glycol (0.75%) in drinking water for 28 days. Animals were divided into six groups, each containing six viz. Vehicle control, model control, S. xanthocarpum methanol extract in different doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg p.o., Cystone (750 mg/kg, p.o.) served as a standard. Hyperoxaluria as well as an increase in the excretion of calcium, phosphate, uric acid and decrease in citrate and magnesium in urine, impairment of renal function and oxidative imbalance in kidney were observed in the calculi-induced group. Treatment with S. xanthocarpum decreases hyperoxaluria, calcium, and uric acid, improves renal function, and also produces antioxidant effects. Crystalluria was characterized by excretion calcium oxalate (CaOX) crystals, which were enormous in the lithogenic group but smaller in the drug-treated group. The histology showed that the calculi-induced group had a large deposition of CaOX crystals in kidney while the treated group had trivial and fewer deposits. The result indicates the antiurolithiatic activity of S. xanthocarpum mediated possibly by CaOX crystal inhibition, diuretic, antioxidant and maintaining balance between stone promoter and inhibitor constituents, and this study rationalized its medicinal use in urolithiasis.

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Objective:The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of Ficus bengalensis Linn. bark (AEFB) on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Materials and Methods:Effects of AEFB were studied on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS, 0.25 ml 120 mg/ml in 50% ethanol intrarectally, on first day only) induced IBD in rats. The effects of co-administration of prednisolone (2 mg/kg) and AEFB (250, 500 mg/kg) for 21 days were evaluated. Animals sacrificed at end of the experiment and various histopathological parameters like colon mucosal damage index (CMDI) and disease activity index (DAI) were assessed. In the colon homogenate malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO) levels and in mesentery % mast cell protection was also measured.Results:Rats treated with only TNBS showed more score of CMDI and DAI, higher MDA, NO, MPO, and lower SOD activity as compared to the control group. Treatment with AEFB significantly declined both indices scores and decreased the MPO, MDA, NO, and increased the SOD activity. AEFB also increased the % mast cell protection compared to alone TNBS-treated animals.Conclusion:In our study, we found that AEFB has a significant protective effect in the IBD in rats that is comparable to that of prednisolone and may be because of the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds.

Objective:Present investigation was undertaken to study the effectiveness of hydroalcoholic extract of roots of Boerhaavia diffusa in experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats using various animal models.Materials and Methods:BPH in rats was induced by subcutaneous injection of testosterone (5 mg/kg) daily for 28 days. Rats were divided in to five groups (six rats each). A negative control group received arachis oil (1 ml/kg s.c.) and four groups were injected testosterone. These four groups were further divided into reference group (finasteride 1 mg/kg), model group (testosterone), study group A (B. diffusa 100 mg/kg), and study group B (B. diffusa 250 mg/kg). On the 29th day, rats were sacrificed and body weight, prostate weight, bladder weight, and serum testosterone level were measured and histological studies were carried out. Further in vitro analysis of B. diffusa extract on contractility of isolated rat vas deferens and prostate gland, produced by exogenously administered agonists were carried out. All results were expressed as mean ± SEM. 0 Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test.Results:B. diffusa (100 mg/kg) treatment for 28 days resulted in significant inhibition of prostate growth (P < 0.05). Drug extract did not have significant change on serum testosterone level. Histopathological analysis of prostate gland supported above results. Results of in vitro experiment suggest that extracts had attenuated the contractile responses of isolated vas deferens and prostate gland to exogenously applied agonists.Conclusion:The results suggested that treatment with B. diffusa may improve symptoms of disease and inhibit the increased prostate size. In vitro study implies that herbal extracts has the machinery to produce beneficial effect on prostatic smooth muscle, which would relieve the urinary symptoms of disease. B. diffusa could be a potential source of new treatment of prostatic hyperplasia.

Patel, et al.: Antiurolithiatic activity of P. murexThe aim of present investigation was to evaluate the effect of Pedalium murex fruit extract in ethylene glycolinduced urolithiasis in male rats. Nephrolithiasis was induced in male Wistar rats by adding ethylene glycol (0.75%) in drinking water for 28 days. Animals divided in six groups each containing six animals. Vehicle control, model control, P. murex methanol extract in different doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o. cystone (750 mg/kg, p.o.) used as standard. Hyperoxaluria as well as the increase in the excretion of calcium, phosphate, uric acid and decrease in citrate and magnesium in urine, impairment of renal function and oxidative imbalance in kidney observed in calculi-induced group. Treatment with P. murex decreases hyperoxaluria, calcium, uric acid, improves renal function and also produces antioxidant effect. Crystalluria was characterized by excretion of large calcium oxalate crystals in lithogenic group but smaller in drug-treated group. The histology showed depositions of large number of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney in calculi-induced group while in the treated group small and fewer deposits. The result indicates antiurolithiatic activity of P. murex mediated possibly by calcium oxalate crystal inhibition, diuretic, antioxidant and maintaining bal ance between stone promoters and inhibitors constituents and this study rationalized its medicinal use in urolithiasis.

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