Antilithiatic and diuretic activity of Cucurbita moschata on ethylene glycol induced lithiasis in male albino Wistar rats

A detailed investigation on the antilithiatic and diuretic activity of ethanolic extract of seeds and fruit of Cucurbita moschata was undertaken to find the pharmacological basis for the ethnomedicinal use. The ethanolic extract was evaluated for its inhibitory potential on lithiasis (stone formation), induced by oral administration of 0.75% ethylene glycolated water to adult male albino Wistar rats for 28 days. The ethanolic extract significantly reduced the elevated levels of crucial urinary ions, viz. calcium, oxalate, and phosphate and also significantly reduced the increased deposition of stone forming constituents in the kidney of calculogenic rats. The high serum creatinine level observed in ethylene glycol-treated rats was also reduced, following treatment with the extract. The diuretic activity of Cucurbita moschata extract at the dosage of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg was compared with standard drug Furosemide at the dosage of 20 mg/kg by determination of urine volume, its sodium and potassium concentrations. The extract exhibited significant diuretic activity in rats. All the observations under study provided the basis for the conclusion that seed and fruit extract of Cucurbita moschata inhibits stone formation induced by ethylene glycol treatment and also have significant diuretic activity.