In Vitro evaluation of anti-urolithiatic activity of Piper betle L.

Abstract

Urolithiasis or kidney stone is the most frequently occurring urinary disorders seen all over the world. They are saturated crystals formed due to the minerals present in the urine. It majorly comprises calcium oxalate, uric acid and phosphate crystals. The phosphate crystals, known as struvite, are formed due to the urinary tract infections. Although there are various synthetic medications, the use of traditional medicines / plants has been a promising method to treat kidney stones. To investigate the antiurolithiatic potential of traditional plant - Piper betle, the aqueous extract of Piper betle leaves was used. This extract was tested on two different crystals, first onto the raphides present in Colocasia esculenta leaf which is analogous to the calcium oxalate crystals. Second on the struvite crystals prepared from the crystallization method. The study showed there was a considerable decrease in the amount of raphides present in Colocasia esculenta and the same effect was seen on struvite crystals, which reveals that the leaves of Piper betle have an effect in dissolving and/or minimising the size of both crystals, thus substantiating the traditional claim. It is concluded that the leaves of Piper betle have beneficial inhibitory effect on in vitro crystallization of calcium oxalate and struvite crystals.