ABSTRACT
Ethylene-glycol (EG) induced nephrolithiasis is a known model of kidney stone in experimental rodents.Nephrolithiasis is treatable with an antilithiatic and lithotriptic drug. Decoction of Crinum giganteum Andrews(CG) bulb, a medicinal herb is used in folklore medicine to manage urinary tract diseases including kidney stone.The antilithiatic effects of Crinum giganteum Andrews bulb extract was investigated using biochemical andhistological parameters on ethylene-glycol nephrolithiatic rat model and compared with cystone (a knownantilithiatic drug). Twenty rats were randomized into a control group (N=4) which received water (vehicle) andexperimental groups (N-16) that received 1% ethylene-glycol in water and subdivided into negative control (only1% EG in drinking water) and treatment groups which were given 200mg/kg/bw, 400mg/kg/bw of ethanolic bulbextracts of CG and 100mg/kg/bw of cystone orally for 21 days. The EG elevated urinary and serum calcium,protein and creatinine, and reduced magnesium concentrations. These were accompanied by microcrystal depositsin kidney sections. But, the ethanolic bulb extract and cystone treatments reversed the above biochemical andhistopathological effects. The ethanolic bulb extract of CG exhibited comparable antilithiatic effect with cystoneon ethylene-glycol-induced nephrolithiasis. Thus, the extract showed positive indication of its use in folkloremedicine.