In vitro evaluation of Terminalia arjuna on calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate crystallization

C Tandon,A Chaudhary,Sk Singla

doi:10.4103/0250-474x.70480

Abstract

Urinary stones are one of the oldest and the most common afflictions in humans. This disease has tormented humans since the earliest records of civilization. Ten percent of men and 3 % of women have a stone during their adult lives. Calcium containing stones are the most common comprising about 75 % of all urinary calculi, which may be in the form of pure calcium oxalate (50 %) or calcium phosphate (5 %) or a mixture of both (45 %). A number of plants have been mentioned in the Indian ayurvedic system, which plays a vital role in the inhibition of kidney stones. In the present study, the inhibitory potency of crude extracts or fractions of successive solvent extractions of Terminalia arjuna bark was evaluated on various stages of formation of calcium phosphate and on the growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals in vitro. Results obtained indicated that Terminalia arjuna bark has the potential to inhibit the formation of both calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate crystals in vitro. Butanol fraction of Terminalia arjuna extract was the most effective in inhibiting formation of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate crystals in vitro.

Highlights

Urinary stones are one of the oldest and the most common afflictions in humans
The present study is aimed at investigating the antiurolithiatic effect of various fractions obtained after successive solvent extraction of Terminalia arjuna bark preceded by preliminary studies on its crude aqueous extract
In vitro calcium phosphate (CaP) assay: Effect of aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna bark was studied on in vitro homogeneous system of initial mineral phase formation for CaP, its subsequent growth and demineralization by employing 5.0 ml system which was prepared by adding 0.5 ml of KH2PO4 (50 mM), 0.5 ml of CaCl2 (50 mM), 2.5 ml of Tris buffer (210 mM NaCl + 0.1 mM tris HCl) and increasing volume of the aqueous extract ranging from 0.2 ml to 1.5 ml by subsequently decreasing the volume of water ranging from 1.5 ml to 0.0 ml

Summary

Introduction

Urinary stones are one of the oldest and the most common afflictions in humans. This disease has tormented humans since the earliest records of civilization. The final dried sample was reconstituted in water to 1000 μg/ ml at the time of experiment and was referred to as aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna.

Results

Conclusion