Efficacy of plantain (Plantago major L.) crude extract as urinary calculi solvent: Preliminary Study.

This study was conducted (1) to determine the efficacy of plantain crude extract on decreasing the weight of urinary calculi; (2) to determine the comparison among the efficacy of the plantain (Plantago major L.) crude extract, Rowatinex (synthetic medicine) and distilled water (control) on decreasing the weight of urinary calculi; and (3) to determine the comparison among the effects of plantain (Plantago major L.) crude extract, Rowatinex (synthetic medicine) and distilled water (control) on the density of urinary calculi.

There were three treatments of the study with three replicates each. The data collected were the weight and volume of the urinary calculi and were obtained by the use of weighing scale and graduated cylinder before and after the application of treatments.
Analysis of variance, mean, and t-test, were applied in analyzing the data.

Results of the study revealed that plantain (P. major L.) crude extract is effective in terms of decreasing the weight of urinary calculi. The three replicates had an average weight decrease of 0.21 g which is within the 0.21 â€" 0.42 range of efficacy giving it an effective qualitative value. Plantain (P. major) crude extract and Rowatinex are both effective in decreasing the weight of urinary calculi. Plantain (P. major) crude extract and Rowatinex both revealed an effective qualitative value with mean weight decrease of 0.21 g and 0.30 g respectively, both found within the 0.21 â€" 0.42 range of efficacy. The distilled water, had a mean weight decrease of 0.16 g which is least effective in qualitative value found within the 0.01 â€" 0.20 range of efficacy. However, ANOVA reveals that there is no significant difference among the effects of plantain crude extract, Rowatinex, and water on the weight of urinary calculi. Rowatinex had the highest mean density decrease, plantain the second and distilled water the third with mean density decrease of 0.04 g/ml, 0.03 g/ml and 0.02 g/ml, respectively. However, ANOVA reveals that there is no significant difference among the effects of plantain crude extract, Rowatinex, and distilled water on the density of urinary calculi.