European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BRASSICA RAPA SUBSP. RAPA LEAVES ON IN VITRO DISSOLUTION OF CHOLESTEROL GALLSTONES: AN APPROACH TO EVALUATE ANTI-CHOLELITHIATIC PROPERTY

Aparna Lakshmi I.a*, Manjunath C. J.a, Dr. T. Shivaraj Goudab, Vandanashri G.c, Narasingh Banuc, Mallikarjunac

ABSTRACT

Aim: Brassica rapa. Subsp. rapa leaves (Turnip leaf) belonging to family Brassicaceae contains biologically
active compounds such as flavonoids including isorhamnetin, kaempferol and quercetin glycosides, phenyl
propanoid derivatives, indole alkaloids, and sterol glucosides. Several studies have been reported that polyphenols
and flavonoids have beneficial effects. In Perso-Arabic tradition, Brassica rapa was employed as a medicine for
inflammation of the gall bladder stones. However, the impact of turnip leaf on cholelithiasis has not been
elucidated. The present study was aimed to evaluate the anti-cholelithiatic effect of ethanolic extract of turnip leaf.
Materials and Methods: Cholesterol gall bladder stones and pigment gall bladder stones along with human bile
were collected from the hospitals. These gall bladder stones were incubated with two different concentrations of
ethanolic extract of Brassica rapa (EEBR) leaves (1mg/ml & 2mg/ml) along with human bile for 4 weeks. By the
end of every week the dried weight of gall bladder stones and amount of cholesterol released were estimated and
compared with initial values measured before the treatment. Results: It was found that the amount of cholesterol
released from gall stones was increased (35.88mg/l) and the dried weight of gall stones were reduced (8.27mg an 9.62
mg) by the end of 4th week and the results were comparable with that of standard drug ursodiol 2mg/ml.
Conclusion: The present study has provided an evidence for anti-cholelithiatic activity of EEBR by using in vitro
model. The study suggests that further research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of Brassica rapa leaves
in real biological systems through animal models.

Keywords: Gall bladder stones, turnip leaf, human bile, cholesterol.