Abstract
Problem statement: The formation of a urinary stone, known as nephrol ithiasis, urolithiasis, renal calculi or kidney stone is a se rious, debilitating problem in all societies throug hout the world. Struvite or Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Hexahydrate (AMPH) is one of the components of urinary stone (calculi). Struvite sto nes are commonly found in women. Struvites form in humans as a result of urinary tract infection with ureolithic urea splitting micro organisms. These st ones can grow rapidly forming staghorn-calculi, which is more painful urological disorder. Therefore, it is of prime importance to study the growth and inhibition of Struvite crystals. Approach: This in vitro study had been carried out in the presence of herbal extr act of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. by using single diffusion gel growth technique. Sodium metasilicate solution of specific gravity 1.05 and an aqueous solution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate of 0.5 M concentration were mixed so that the pH value 7.0 could be set. After the gelation, equal amount of supernatant solution of 1.0 M magnesium acetate prepared with 0.5 and 1% concentrations of the herb al extract of B. diffusa Linn. were gently poured on the set gels in the respective test tubes in the as eptic medium. Results: The growth of crystals without and with herbal extracts was monitored at regular t ime intervals. As the concentration of B. diffusa Linn. increased, the inhibition of crystals also in creased in the gel media as well as the dissolution of crystals at the gel-liquid interface increases. The de-fragmentation of some grown crystals was also noticed. Conclusion: The herbal extract of B. diffusa Linn. inhibited the growth of struvite crystals in vitro. This study incorporated multidisciplinary interests and may be used for formulating the strategy for prevention or dissolution of urinary s tones.
Highlights
Urinary stone is one of the oldest and common afflictions of humans
The growth inhibition of hydroxyapatite crystals is studied at physiological temperature in vitro by using-Boswellia serrata Roxb., Tribulus terrestris Linn., Rotula aquatica Lour., Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. and Commiphora wightii herbal extract solutions and the diffusion constants were measured for Ca++ ions[50]
The dimensions are far less than 5 mm, that is the maximum dimension of the urinary crystal or calculi which can pass through the urinary tract
Summary
Urinary stone is one of the oldest and common afflictions of humans. A large number of people are suffering from urinary stone problem all over the glob. The humans but animals and birds suffer from the urinary stone problem. In USA urinary stones are responsible for about 1.3 million medical consults each year with treatment costing about $2 billion annually in medical bills[2]. As per one estimate 6 lacs Americans suffer from urinary stone problem every year. In India 11% people are expected to be having urinary stone problem and out of them 50% may lead to loss of kidneys or renal damages. Nearly 15% population of the northern India is suffering from kidney stone problem[3]
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