Evaluation of Sesbania grandiflora for antiurolithiatic and antioxidant properties.

In the indigenous system of medicine in India, the plant Sesbania grandiflora is claimed to be useful for various ailments, and one such use is for the treatment of renal calculi. The major purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of S. grandiflora in the treatment of renal calculi. The leaf juice of S. grandiflora was evaluated for median lethal dose, gross behavioral changes, antiurolithiatic and antioxidant activities. The antiurolithiatic activity was evaluated by a calculi-producing diet model, using gentamicin (subcutaneously) and 5% ammonium oxalate in rat feed to induce calcium oxalate-type stones. The parameters monitored in the present study are calcium and oxalate deposition in the kidney, kidney weights, urinary excretion of calcium and oxalate. The in vivo antioxidant parameters lipid peroxidation, glutathione reductase and catalase were monitored. The plant juice was also evaluated for scavenging of nitric oxide and 2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radicals. The leaf juice of S. grandiflora was safe orally and exhibited no gross behavioral changes except for an increase in urination. The leaf juice of S. grandiflora showed significant antiurolithiatic activity against calcium oxalate-type stones and also exhibited antioxidant properties. The results obtained in this study provide evidence for the efficacy of the leaf juice of S. grandiflora as antiurolithiatic agent.