Evaluations of the curative efficacy of G. fruticosus solvent extracts in experimentally induced nephrolithiatic Wistar male rats

Tilahun Alelign,Beyene Petros,Tesfaye Sisay Tessema,Asfaw Debella

doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03320-3

Abstract

BackgroundIn Ethiopian folk medicine, there is a claim that medicinal plants can treat urolithiasis although there is insufficient scientific evidence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the curative efficacy of Gomphocarpus fruticosus extracts in experimentally induced nephrolithiatic rats.MethodsUrolithiasis was induced in male Wistar rats by feeding ethylene glycol in drinking water for 28 days. The curative effects were evaluated after oral administrations of 200 mg/kg of the extracts from 15 to 28 days. Urine samples were collected 1 day before sacrificing the rats. Blood, liver and kidney samples were gathered under anaesthetic condition at day 28. Crystals in the urine were also analyzed by light microscopy.ResultsG. fruticosus EtOAc extract reduced significantly the level of sodium (P < 0.001), whereas it was significantly elevated the levels of magnesium and citrate (P < 0.01) compared to lithiatic control. G. fruticosus BuOH extract lowered the levels of potassium (P < 0.01), calcium and phosphate in urolithiatic rats. It was also observed that G. fruticosus EtOAc extract decreased the level of oxalate in the urine (P < 0.001), whereas it was increased the levels of magnesium (P < 0.05) and citrate (P < 0.01) in serum analysis after exposure to BuOH extract. In the kidneys, CaOx crystal deposits were reduced significantly by G. fruticosus EtOAc extract (P < 0.01).ConclusionIt has been noted that G. fruticosus EtOAc extract was potent in treating urolithiasis. However, further study is required to assess the efficacy of the active compounds against urolithiasis.

Highlights

In Ethiopian folk medicine, there is a claim that medicinal plants can treat urolithiasis there is insufficient scientific evidence
Curative efficacy of G. fruticosus extracts In the curative studies, the selected extracts dose was 200 mg/kg body weight of rats, which was onetenth of the maximum tolerated dose 2000 mg/kg b.w [32]
The induction of kidney stones by the administration of 0.75% Ethylene glycol (EG) combined with ammonium chloride (1%) in drinking water was confirmed in Wistar male rats

Summary

Introduction

In Ethiopian folk medicine, there is a claim that medicinal plants can treat urolithiasis there is insufficient scientific evidence. Urolithiasis (stones in the urinary tract) affects about 12% of the world population at some stage in their lifetime [1]. Renal stone formation requires persistent retention of crystals in the kidneys after the completion of the crystallization process [11, 12]. The interaction of COM crystals with a surface of renal epithelial cells is a critical initiating event in nephrolithiasis [13]. A study on animal models revealed that the administration of high concentrations of CaOx crystals or oxalate ions appears to be toxic, causing renal tubular cell damage [7]. Exposure to higher levels of oxalate or CaOx crystals induce epithelial cell injury, which is a predisposing factor for the subsequent stone formation [15, 16]

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