EVALUATION OF ANTI-UROLITHIASIS ACTIVITY OF WOODFORDIA FRUTICOSA

Euphorbia hirta L. is a common weed plant that belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae characterized by the presence of milky latex in leaves and stems. Phytochemical screening of leaves of Euphorbia hirta L. confirmed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannin and terpenoids. FTIR confirms the formation of calcium oxalate crystals with major peaks at 3331.07, 1608.63, 1317.38, and 775.38, which corresponds to asymmetric O-H bending, C=O stretching, C-O stretching and C-H bending. Urinary stone formation takes place due to changes in urinary chemistry, such as hyperoxaluria and hypercalciuria, leading to urinary super saturation, which later crystallizes, aggregates and ends up in stone formation. Evidences in previous studies indicated that, in response to 14 days period of ethylene glycol (0.75%v/v) administration, young albino rats  form  renal  calculi  composed  mainly  of CaOx.  The principal  precursor  of  oxalic  acid  in mammals is glyoxalic acid. The enzymatic oxidative conversion of glycolate to oxalate via glyoxylate is the major metabolic pathway involved in endogenous oxalate synthesis. The enzymatic disturbances are the causative factors for the idiopathic hyperoxaluria; while, the defective intestinal absorption of oxalate plays a vital role in enteric hyperoxaluria and lead to an increase in the urinary oxalate concentration. In the present study, chronic administration of 0.75% ethylene glycol aqueous solution to male  Wistar  rats resulted in hyperoxaluria. Oxalate and calcium excretion in urine were grossly increased in calculi- induced animals.