Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of indigenous plant extracts on calcium oxalate crystallization having a role in urolithiasis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Urological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Crystallization process has a major role in urolithiasis. In the present study, effect of two indigenous plants extracts namely Boerhavia diffusa and Bryophyllum pinnatum extract was determined on the crystallization of calcium oxalate crystals. Effect on the number, size and type of calcium oxalate crystals was observed. Results showed significant activity of both extracts against calcium oxalate crystallization at different concentrations (P < 0.05). Size of the crystals gradually reduced with the increasing concentration of both extracts. The number of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals which are injurious to epithelial cells gradually reduced and at the highest concentration of extracts (100 mg/ml) completely disappeared (P < 0.05). These results confirm that B. diffusa and B. pinnatum extracts have antiurolithic activity and have the ability to reduce crystal size as well as to promote the formation of calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) crystals rather than monohydrate (COM) crystals. Control of crystal size and formation of COD rather than COM crystals, in combination with the diuretic action of extracts is an important way to control urolithiasis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yasui T, Fujita K, Sato M, Sugimoto M, Iguchi M, Nomura S, Kohri K (1999) The effect of Takusha, a Kampo medicine on renal stone formation and osteopontin expression in a rat urolithiasis model. Urol Res 27:194–199

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lewandowski S, Rodgers AL (2004) Idiopathic calcium oxalate urolithiasis: risk factors and conservative treatment. Clin Chim Acta 345:17–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rizvi SAH, Naqvi SAA, Hussain Z et al (2002) The management of stone disease. BJU Int 89:62–68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pak CYC (1991) Etiology and treatment of urolithiasis. Am J Kidney Dis 6:624–637

    Google Scholar 

  5. Khan SR, Kok DJ (2004) Modulators of urinary stone formation. Front Biosci 9:1450–1482

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Selvam R, Kalaiselvi P, Govindaraj A, Bala MV, Kumar ASS (2001) Effect of A. lanata extract and vediuppu chunnam on the urinary risk factors of calcium oxalate urolithiasis during experimental hyperoxaluria. Pharmacol Res 43:89–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Prasad KVSRG, Sujatha D, Bharathi K (2007) Herbal drugs in urolithiasis—a review. Pharmacogn Rev 1:175–179

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gilani AH, Atta-ur-Rahman (2005) Trends in ethnopharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol 100:43–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Touhami M, Laroubi A, Elhabazi K et al (2007) Lemon juice has protective activity in a rat urolithiasis model. BMC Urol 7:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gohel MDI, Wong SP (2006) Chinese herbal medicines and their efficacy in treating renal stones. Urol Res 34:365–372

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Atmani F, Slimani Y, Mimouni M, Hacht B (2003) Prophylaxis of calcium oxalate stones by Herniaria hirsuta on experimentally induced nephrolithiasis in rats. BJU Int 92:137–140

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Freitas AM, Schor N, Boim MA (2002) The effect of Phyllanthus niruri on urinary inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization and other factors associated with renal stone formation. BJU Int 89:829–834

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Varalakshmi P, Shamila Y, Latha E (1990) Effect of Crataeva nurvala in experimental urolithiasis. J Ethnopharmacol 28:313–321

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kulaksizoglu S, Sofikerim M, Cevik C (2008) In vitro effect of lemon and orange juices on calcium oxalate crystallization. Int Urol Nephrol 40:589–594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Waqar MA, Sarwar F (2006) Herbal treatment for urolithiasis, Daily Dawn, Sci-tech World, June 10

  16. Atmani F, Khan SR (2000) Effects of an extract from Herniaria hirsuta on calcium oxalate crystallization in vitro. BJU Int 85:621–625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Barros ME, Schor N, Boim MA (2003) Effects of an aqueous extract from Phyllanthus niruri on calcium oxalate crystallization in vitro. Urol Res 30:374–379

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Grases F, Ramis M, Costa-Bauzá A, March JG (1995) Effect of Herniaria hirsuta and Agropyron repens on calcium oxalate urolithiasis risk in rat. J Ethnopharmacol 45:211–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Veronika B, Khan SR (2009) Herbal medicines in the management of urolithiasis: alternative or complementary. Planta Med 75:1095–1103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Yamaguchi S, Wiessner JH, Hasegawa AT, Hung LY, Mandel GS, Mandel NS (2005) Study of a rat model for calcium oxalate crystal formation without severe renal damage in selected conditions. Int J Urol 12:290–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Fauzia Yasir & Muhammad A. Waqar

Authors
  1. Fauzia Yasir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad A. Waqar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fauzia Yasir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yasir, F., Waqar, M.A. Effect of indigenous plant extracts on calcium oxalate crystallization having a role in urolithiasis. Urol Res 39, 345–350 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-011-0374-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-011-0374-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation