Abstract
In the indigenous system of medicine, the fruits of Momordica charantia Linn. (Family- Cucurbitaceae) are reported to be useful in the treatment of urinary stones. Hence, in the present study the fruits of Momordica charantia Linn. have been selected for their antiurolithiatic activity on experimentally induced urolithiatic rats. Antiurolithiatic activity of fruit extract of M. charantia Linn. was carried out on ethylene glycol (0.75% v/v) induced urolithiasis in rats. Treatment with Aqueous Extract (200mg/kg, p.o) and Alcoholic Extract (250mg/kg, p.o) of fruits of M. charantia Linn. significantly lowered (P<0.001) the increased levels of oxalate, calcium and phosphate in urine and also significantly reduced (P<0.001) their retention in kidney. The treatment with Aqueous extract and Alcoholic extract of fruits significantly (P<0.001) lowered the elevated serum levels of Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid in both regimens. The histopathological study of the kidney also supported the above results. The results were comparable to that of standard drug (Cystone). The presented data indicate that administration of M. charantia Linn. fruits extracts to rats with experimentally-induced urolithiasis reduced and also prevented the formation of urinary stones, supporting folk information regarding antiurolithiatic activity of the plant. The reduction in the stone forming constituents in urine and renal tissue brought about by M. charantia Linn. could contribute to its antiurolithiatic property.

Key words: Momordica charantia Linn., Urolithiasis, Ethylene glycol, calcium oxalate.