STANDARDIZATION AND IN-VITRO ANTI UROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY OF STIGMA MAYDIS

Abstract

Stigma maydis (Zea mays) is yellowish thread-like strand found inside the husks of corn. Corn stigma measure 4-8 inch (10-
20 cm) long and are collected for medicinal use before the plant is pollinated. In present study, various
standardization parameters of Stigma maydis like macroscopical, microscopical characters, physicochemical parameters
have been evaluated. Behaviour on treatment with different chemical reagents of the dried Stigma maydis, were studied to
fix some pharmacognostic parameters that vary from region to region. Preliminary phytochemical studies on different
extracts were also reported. In this study the antiurolithiatic activity of aqueous extract of Stigma maydis was also
investigated by in vitro model of urolithiasis. In this method test tubes were divided in three experimental groups and test
group received 200mg/ml conc. of test sol., standard group received 200mg/ml conc. of standard drug (cystone) and
control group was without any drug. At the end of the study precipitates of calcium oxalate of the all three groups were
collected and the percentage inhibition of each group was calculated.