Effect of cystone, a herbal formulation, on glycolic acid-induced urolithiasis in rats

Abstract

The effect of cystone, a herbal formulation, was studied on experimentally induced urolithiasis in rats. Oxalate urolithiasis was produced by the addition of 3% glycolic acid to the diet for a period of 42 days. Glycolic acid treatment resulted in a significant increase in the levels of calcium and oxalate in the kidney as well as in the total kidney weight. Also, the urinary levels of calcium, oxalate and inorganic phosphorus were increased. Cystone treatment at 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg b.wt. p.o. for 42 days revealed a dose-related effect in the reduction of lithogenic substances, following glycolic acid induced urolithiasis. Simultaneous oral treatment with cystone at a dose of 500 and 750 mg/kg for 42 days, significantly reversed the glycolic acid-induced urolithiasis, presumably by preventing the urinary supersaturation of lithogenic substances, especially of oxalate and calcium. The reduction of urinary and kidney oxalate levels by cystone may be due to its inhibitory action on oxalate synthesizing liver enzyme glycolate oxidase. These observations indicate that cystone can play an important role in the prevention of disorders associated with kidney stone formation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.