Herbal preparations affect the kinetic factors of calcium oxalate crystallization in synthetic urine: implications for kidney stone therapy

Abstract

Herbal remedies are increasingly being considered as suitable long-term treatments for renal dysfunction. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of some herbal extracts, all previously identified in published studies as influencing kidney stone formation, on the crystallization characteristics of calcium oxalate (CaOx) in synthetic urine (SU). Five herbal extracts were selected for the study: Folium pyrrosiae, Desmodium styracifolium, Phyllanthus niruri, Orthosiphon stamineus and Cystone(®). Concentrated stock solutions of each herbal extract were prepared and were tested at their recommended dosages in in vitro crystallization studies in SU. CaOx crystallization experiments were performed in which the metastable limit (MSL), average particle size, and nucleation and growth rates were determined. The CaOx MSL of SU was unaltered by the five herbal extracts. Three of the herbs (Desmodium styracifolium, Orthosiphon stamineus and Cystone(®)) significantly reduced the average particle size of precipitated crystals relative to undosed SU. All of the extracts increased the rate of nucleation and decreased the rate of growth significantly in SU. Cystone(®) showed the greatest effect on the measured risk factors. It is concluded that all of the herbs have the potential to serve as inhibitors of calcium oxalate stone formation and warrant investigation in clinical trials.

Antilithic effects of extracts from different polarity fractions of Desmodium styracifolium on experimentally induced urolithiasis in rats

“…In view of the traditional medical uses of D. styracifolium in urolithiasis and the previous studies of D. styracifolium crude extract showing the antilithic activity in rats [8][9][10][11][12], we were motivated to further study the extracts from different polarity fractions, including Fr. CH, Fr.…”

“…The aerial parts of D. styracifolium, called "Guang Jinqiancao" in China, are a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, and have been widely used for treatment of renal stones due to its heat-clearing and diuretic properties [7]. In vitro crystallization study has confirmed the prophylactic effect of D. styracifolium in the formation of calcium oxalate crystals [8,9]. Further in vivo study subsequently demonstrated that the aqueous extracts from D. styracifolium inhibited CaOx stone formation by rising urinary citrate excretion, decreasing urinary calcium, diuresis, and enhancing antioxidative effects in rats [10].…”

A new method for determining the aspect ratio of kaolinite by image-resistance combination

“…Resistance method is the only threedimensional test method for particle size and has high accuracy and repeatability. For these reasons, this method is widely applied in various industries, especially the medical industry [10,11].…”

<i>Glechoma longituba</i> (Lamiaceae) alleviates apoptosis in calcium oxalate-induced oxidative stress in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cell line, HK-2

“…In addition, erythrocyte oxidative damage contributes to the tubular damage and stone formation [11]. Recently, several herbal remedies have been used as treatments for nephrolithiasis in clinics, owing to their regulation of CaOx formation [12,13]. However, their underlying mechanisms remain unclear.…”