Abstract

Deepak Prajapati*, Ragini Bundela, Dr. Sourabh Jain and Dr. Karunakar Shukla

ABSTRACT

Clitoria ternatea Linn (butterfly pea, Fabaceae), Clitoria ternatea is used to treat a variety of ailments and symptoms. It possesses antidepressant, anticonvulsant, anticancer, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic qualities, as well as local anesthetic, purgative, and antidiabetic effects. It’s also used to treat snake bites and scorpion stings in India. The leaves aqueous extract of Clitoria ternatea was investigated for its antiurolithiatic and diuretic activity. Ethylene glycol (0.75% in water) feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria as well as increased renal excretion of calcium and phosphate. Aqueous extract of Clitoria ternatea was given orally in curative and preventive regimens over a period of 28 days. Supplementation with extract significantly (P < 0.001) lowered the urinary excretion and kidney retention levels of oxalate, calcium and phosphate. Furthermore, high serum levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by the extract. The results were comparable with the standard drug, cystone (750 mg/kg). The reduction of stone-forming constituents in urine and their decreased kidney retention reduces the solubility product of crystallizing salts such as calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, which could contribute to the antiurolithiatic property of the extract. The extract exhibited significant diuretic activity at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight as evidenced by increased total urine volume and the urine concentration of Na+, and K+. These findings affirm assertions made regarding the effectiveness of the extract of this plant against urinary pathologies in the Indian folk medicine.