In Vitro Comparative Study of Anti- Urolithiatic Activity of Trigonella- Foenum-Graecum, Coriandrum Sativum, Tribulus Terrestris & Sterculia Foetida

Elampirai T, Parkavi V, Kiroshini N, Shagini P, Saminathan C

Background: Urolithiasis, or kidney stone formation, is a common disorder with a high recurrence rate. Conventional treatments may lead to side effects, necessitating exploration of alternative herbal therapies. Objective: To evaluate and compare the in vitro anti-urolithiatic activity of aqueous extracts of Trigonella foenum-graecum, Coriandrum sativum, Tribulus terrestris, and Sterculia foetida using nucleation and aggregation assays. Methods: Leaves were collected, authenticated, and extracted using the maceration method. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to determine total phenolic, alkaloid, and flavonoid content. Anti-urolithiatic activity was evaluated using calcium oxalate crystallization-based nucleation and aggregation assays. Results: All plant extracts exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of calcium oxalate nucleation and aggregation. Sterculia foetida showed the highest phenolic and alkaloid content and demonstrated the strongest inhibitory activity. Conclusion: The study indicates significant anti-urolithiatic potential of these plants, especially Sterculia foetida, suggesting their possible use in herbal formulations for kidney stone prevention.

Keywords: Urolithiasis, Calcium oxalate, Herbal medicine, Nucleation assay, Aggregation assay.