Nephroprotective effect of Bryophyllum pinnatum-mediated silver nanoparticles in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rat.

A large population is suffering from multifactorial urolithiasis worldwide with a reoccurrence rate of almost 70%-80% in males and 47%-60% in females. In the present study, the nephroprotective effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesised by Bryophyllum pinnatum was evaluated in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rat. B. pinnatum-mediated AgNPs which were found to be spherical and polydispersed particles with an average size of 32.65 nm determined by transmission electron microscopy analysis, and showing an absorption peak at 432 nm by the UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis, revealing the role of hydroxyl group in the synthesis by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, with a zeta potential value of -15.7 mV. The crystalline nature and fcc structure was demonstrated based on X-ray diffraction analysis. Animal study was performed on 36 male Wistar rats divided into six equal groups, which demonstrated significant increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin and significant decrease in AST, ALT, creatinine, BUN, calcium and phosphorus in group V and VI when compared with group II and IV. No crystalluria was observed in rats given B. pinnatum AgNPs. Histopathological observations in group V and VI showed mild degenerative changes and restoration or maintenance of kidney parenchyma when compared with group II and IV rats. Thus, the authors conclude with the beneficial preventive and therapeutic nephroprotective effect of B. pinnatum-mediated AgNPs against ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats.