Author: M.Nishanthi, B.Vijayakumar, M.Vijey Aanandhi

DOI:

To study the antiurolithiatic activity of Peperomia tetraphylla (Piperaceae) in ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis in male Wister rats. The urolithiasis was induced in rats by oral feeding of ethylene glycolated water (0.75%v/v) for 28 days. Ethanolic extract of Peperomia tetraphylla (PT) (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) was administered orally from 1st day for preventive regimen and from 15th day for curative regimen. It was observed that the inducing agent ethylene glycol elevated the ionic parameters, calcium and phosphate levels in urine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and serum uric acid levels. Treatment with ethanolic extract of Peperomia tetraphylla significantly (P<0.001) reduced the elevated levels of ions in urine as well as BUN, serum creatinine and serum uric acid levels. The elevated calcium and phosphate levels in urine, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid levels of urolithiasis induced rats were reduced with preventive and curative regimens of plant extract treatment. The histological findings also showed improvement in kidney architecture after treatment with the plant extract. These observations enable us to conclude that the Peperomia tetraphylla has curative and preventive properties for ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis in rats.

Keywords: Urolithiasis, Ethylene glycol, Peperomia tetraphylla, Hyperoxaluria, Micro crystals.