Abstract

CASSIA FISTULA L. IN UROLITHIASIS: PHYTOCHEMISTRY, BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE OF ANTIUROLITHIATIC POTENTIAL

Abhinav Kumar Tiwari*, Dr. Amit Pandey, Prince Shukla, Jyoti Upadhyay, Cheshta Awadhiya

Abstract

Cassia fistula L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as Amaltas or the Golden Shower Tree, has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments and has received considerable attention for its diverse phytochemical and pharmacological properties. However, information connecting its phytochemical constituents with its possible role in urolithiasis is still scattered. This review brings together the available information on the phytochemistry, isolation and characterization of bioactive constituents, pharmacological activities, and experimental evidence related to the antiurolithiatic potential of Cassia fistula. Different parts of the plant have been reported to contain anthraquinones, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, and other secondary metabolites. These constituents have been investigated using analytical techniques including HPTLC, HPLC, LC–MS/MS, GC–MS, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Studies on the plant have also reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, diuretic, analgesic, and antibacterial activities, some of which may be relevant to the processes involved in urinary stone formation. Direct evidence for antiurolithiatic activity is limited but includes inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal nucleation and aggregation in vitro and reduction of crystal deposition in experimental models.

Keywords: Cassia fistula; urolithiasis; antiurolithiatic activity; HPTLC; LC–MS/MS; nephrolithiasis.