Abstract

ANTI-LITHIC PROPERTY OF THE FRUITS OF SOLANUM AMERICANUM MILL.: IN VITRO STUDIES ON CA2+CHELATION AND CALCIUM HYDROGEN PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE CRYSTALLISATION

K. V. George and Malavika S. Nair*

ABSTRACT

Background: Urolithiasis is one among the most common painful disorder. There are immense traditional knowledge on the antiurolithiatic properties of medicinal plants which are under explored. Berries of Solanum americanum Mill. is traditionally used as a diuretic and nephroprotective agent but its potential effect on the dissolution of kidney stones have to be scientifically validated. The effects of ethanolic fruit extract of Solanum americanum Mill. in Calcium chelation and inhibition of CHPD (Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate) formation is studied here. Methods: Studies were done using complexometric titration and single gel diffusion technique using hydrogel and crystal analysis was done by analytical techniques like FTIR, XRD, TGA/DTA, SEM. Results and Discussion: Dissolution and reduction of crystal growth was observed in the presence of fruit extract. The morphology and structural details of CHPD or brushite crystals examined using SEM indicated noticeable
variations in the surface topography, from standard sheet like structures to globular and needle like forms. FTIR and XRD analysis showed disappearance and shifts, along with appearance of new peaks in the treatment sets, which suggests the modifications in structural configuration of CHPD by the action of antilithic phytocomponents in the fruit extract. TGA/DTA analysis confirmed the variation in thermal behaviour of CHPD crystals as a result of the treatment. Conclusion: The results suggest that fruit of S. americanum are potent candidate for developing drugs against urolithiasis, and validate the traditional use of these fruits as a remedy for this condition.

Keywords: Urolithiasis, Calcium hydrogen phosphate diydrtae, Brushite, Solanum americanum, Calcium chelation.