Excavating the antiurolithiatic potential of wild himalayan cherry through in vitro and preclinical investigations

Abstract Prunus cerasoides D. Don is a plant of great venerative value in the Himalayan region. The fruits and seed kernels of this plant are traditionally used for the treatment of urinary stones. Present study was aimed to demonstrate the in vitro and preclinical antilithic potential of the hydroethanolic extract of Prunus cerasoides fruits against calcium oxalate urolithiasis. In vitro antiurolithiatic screening was done by nucleation, and aggregation assay, while preclinical evaluation was carried out on ethylene glycol (0.75% v/v) and ammonium chloride (1% w/v) rendered urolithiasic male Wistar rats. P. cerasoides fruit extract induced nucleation of multiple small sized calcium oxalate crystals and inhibited their aggregation in the metastable solutions. P. cerasoides fruit extract to a large extent prevented lithogenic treatment induced anorexia, weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, crystalluria, hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, hyperphosphaturia, hypocitraturia and hypomagnesuria. It also showed preventive effect on the deposition of calcium, oxalate and phosphate in kidney tissues and exhibited ameliorative effect on serum urea, creatinine and uric acid. Moreover, inhibitory effect on oxidative stress induced degeneration of renal tissue was also recorded from histopathological analysis of the kidneys. PCFE showed promising outcomes as an antiurolithiatic both prophylactically and curatively. The effects can be attributed to its ability to restore the equilibrium between the urinary promoters and inhibitors of CaOx crystallization, its anticrystallization activity and its ameliorating effects on renal cellularity, urine and serum chemistry.