Effect of Wedelia chinensis Leaf Extracts against Ethylene Glycol Induced Urolithiasis in Rats

Background

Finding a hyperoxaluria treatment that especially targets lowering oxalate excretion is essential due to the drawbacks of present urolithiasis treatments. It's interesting to note that Wedelia chinensis (Family: Asteraceae) leaves are used traditionally by several Indian tribes for treating renal disease.

Objectives

The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of W. chinensis leaf extracts as therapeutic agents in rats with experimentally induced calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Materials and Methods

Rats were given 0.75% ethylene glycol orally to induce calcium oxalate lithiasis for fourteen days in succession. W. chinensis leaf extracts, 400 mg/kg body weight in aqueous and ethanolic forms, were administered in the same way for a further 14 days in succession. The standard antiurolithiatic medicine used was cystone, administered at a dose of 750 mg/kg body weight. The study focused on the measurement of serum biochemical indicators and the excretion of salt components in the urine and renal deposits of the elements which were shown to be challenging.

Results

Ethylene glycol administered orally caused hyperoxaluria and increased calcium and phosphate renal excretion. Nevertheless, W. chinensis leaf extracts significantly reduced the elevated oxalate levels in the urine, indicating an inhibitory action on internal oxalate synthesis. The renal accumulation of components that cause stone formation in rats with calculogenic conditions decreased considerably after the administration of curative treatments with aqueous and ethanolic extracts.

Discussion and Conclusion

In accordance with the results, W. chinensis leaves possess lithontriptic action that justifies more research towards a possible treatment for urolithiasis. Further study is required to isolate and clarify the active phytoconstituents found in leaves responsible for their antiurolithiatic effects.