Évaluation de l’effet antilithiasique, oxalo-calcique et phospho-ammoniaco-magnésien d’extrait aqueux d’Erica multiflora L.

Abstract

In Morocco, as in many countries, a large number of patients use medicinal plants to treat their disease including urinary lithiasis. The aim of the present work is to study the antilithiasic effect of Erica multiflora aqueous extract, purported for its antilithiasic effect in the oriental region of Morocco. E.multiflora aqueous extract was studied in two oxalo-calcic models of rats rendered experimentally lithiasic. Urinary biochemistry parameters were measured and histological slides of kidneys were analyzed. The effect of the extract was also tested in a magnesium ammonium phosphate crystallization model in vitro. The number of crystals and their size in presence and absence of extract were compared. E.multiflora extract did not inhibit the development of parenchymal and papillary calcifications and therefore did not prevent calcium oxalate crystallization into kidneys. Even if there was an increase in urinary pH and diuresis, the plant extract did not show a significant inhibitory activity against calcium oxalate crystallization. However, the plant extract exerted an efficient antilithiasic activity toward struvite crystallization inhibiting the formation of crystals by reduction of their size and numbers as well as their aggregation. E.multiflora aqueous extract need to be used in the inhibition and elimination of magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals rather than calcium oxalate ones. 3.