Nano-engineered silver rods from Pleurolobus gangeticus root extract and their antilithiatic and cytoprotective role on oxalate injured renal epithelial cells

The green synthesis of nanoparticles and their specific role in the field of medicine are getting humongous attention worldwide. Their eco friendly and non toxic behaviour gives them such immense priority in the field of medicines. In our study, we explored the antiurolithiatic potential of green synthesized Ag nanorods (AgNRs) from the root extract of Pleurolobus gangeticus (L.) J. St.- Hil. Ex H. Ohashi & K. Ohashi.(PG) on oxalate-induced injury to renal tubular epithelial cells. The extract obtained from P. gangeticus were successfully reduced to silver ions and silver nanorods were synthesized further. The PG derived AgNRs were characterized using UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles are rod shaped nano clusters with an average diameter of 100-200 nm and an average length of 3-4 mu m with a poly dispersive index value of 0.214. The AgNRs at a concentration of 500 mu g/mL showed promising inhibitory potential on the CaOx crystals in a dose dependent manner with a maximum absorption of 0.178 +/- 0.08. The AgNRs also showed potent cytoprotective effects on oxalate-induced Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) renal epithelial cells in a dose dependent manner via reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the cells. Overall, our findings suggest the role of PG derived AgNRs as a potent source of antiurolithiatic agents and open a wide range of possibilities in the use of silver nanosystems for the treatment of urolithiasis.