Abstract:
Background: Urolithiasis is the condition where urinary calculi are formed in the urinary
tract and is identified as one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. None of the known
and available treatments could prevent the recurrence of kidney stone formation. However, a
number of plant species are used in traditional systems of medicine to treat and/or prevent
urinary calculi. Crataeva religiosa (lunnuwarana) is one of the medicinal plants employed in
indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka to dissolve kidney stones and to treat other urinary disease
conditions.
Objectives : The objectives of the present study is to evaluate the effect of C.religiosa on
kidney stones and to determine the effective concentration/strength of the plant extract
needed to exert antiurolithiatic effect.
Methodology: Three kidney stones were taken from patients who underwent kidney stone
surgery and the stones were crushed to homogenize the sample. Methanol extracts of bark
of C. religiosa was prepared at different concentrations (62.5-2000 μg/mL) and kidney
stones were dissolved in different concentrations of the extract. At 24, 48 and 72 hours, the
reduction in weight and percentage weight change were simultaneously determined. The
results were compared with a marketed polyherbal combination, cystone.
Results and conclusions: Methanol extract of bark of C.religiosa has proved that its
antiurolithiatic potential was statistically equal to that the standard drug, cystone. The
maximum mean percentage weight loss (3.3073%) was observed at 2000 μg/mL
concentration. The mean percentage weight loss was found to be directly proportional to the
increase in concentration and was time dependent. The highest mean percentage weight loss
of kidney stones was observed at 72 hours. Thus our study indicated that the bark of
C.religiosa is a potent and promising antiurolithiatic agent, which is in accordance with its
use in traditional medicine.
