Urolithiasis, commonly known as kidney stone disease, is a major urinary disorder predominantly caused by the formation of calcium oxalate crystals. Although numerous medicinal plants are traditionally used in its treatment, the combined effects of such herbs remain insufficiently explored. In India, Achyranthes aspera and Tribulus terrestris are widely utilized due to their proven safety and therapeutic benefits in managing kidney stones. A. aspera is considered a promising source for developing novel anti-urolithiatic agents because of its protective properties and ability to reduce stone recurrence. Similarly, T. terrestris has been reported to inhibit calcium oxalate crystallization, prevent crystal adhesion to renal epithelial cells, and aid in both the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis. The polyherbal formulation contains key phytochemicals such as saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, which enhance diuresis, reduce crystal formation, and improve antioxidant activity. The extract was evaluated for antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay, which demonstrated concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity. Anti-urolithiatic activity was assessed through inhibition, nucleation, aggregation, and crystal growth assays, where the extract showed significant inhibitory effects on calcium oxalate crystallization. Fractionation and column chromatography were performed to isolate non-polar compounds for further analysis. The egg membrane assay supported the ability of the extract to reduce oxalate levels. In addition, the MTT assay on HK cell lines confirmed the cytocompatibility of the extract at tested concentrations. These findings suggest that the synergistic combination of A. aspera and T. terrestris offers a safe, effective, and promising polyherbal approach for the prevention and management of urolithiasis Keywords: Achyranthes aspera , Tribulus terrestris , Anti-urolithiatic and MTT Assay.
Menaka et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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