In-vitro assessment of Urginea indica (R.) Bulb fractions against calcium oxalate crystallization: Role of Citronellal identified by GC-MS

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the in-vitro antiurolithiatic activity of the methanolic bulb extract of Urginea indica (R.) and its fractions, focusing on their ability to inhibit calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal nucleation, aggregation, and oxalate degradation. The goal was to validate its traditional use in urolithiasis and assess its potential as a clinically relevant phytotherapeutic agent. Methods: Urginea indica bulbs were extracted using Soxhlet extraction with methanol, followed by column chromatography to yield five fractions (F1–F5). A factorial approach guided the optimization and separation of fractions using TLC profiling. GC-MS analysis identified key phytoconstituents. In-vitro assays for nucleation, aggregation, oxalate degradation, and titrimetric estimation of calcium oxalate were conducted to assess antiurolithiatic efficacy. Cystone was used as the standard reference. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins. GC-MS identified citronellal (49.43%), camphor (12.79%), and other active compounds. Among the fractions, F5 consistently showed the highest activity: 85% nucleation inhibition, 84% aggregation inhibition, 84% oxalate degradation, and 87% inhibition of CaOx content at 1000 µg/mL, closely matching the standard Cystone. F5 was thus selected as the optimized batch based on superior efficacy across all in-vitro parameters. Conclusion: Urginea indica fraction F5 exhibits significant antiurolithiatic activity, supporting its traditional use and potential clinical application. Its multi-targeted action and natural origin make it a promising candidate for future development. Further in-vivo studies are essential for clinical translation.