Nucleation Of Calcium Oxalate Research Articles

Phenol content, potential antioxidant and anti-urolithic effects of fruit and leaf extracts from Algerian Capparis spinosa L.

Background: Ethnobotanical studies have historically documented the traditional medicinal use of Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) in treating kidney stones and other chronic renal ailments. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and potential inhibitory effects of Capparis spinosa L. fruit and leaf extracts on calcium oxalate nucleation and aggregation. Material and Methods: Plant material was collected from the Tessala Mountains in Algeria. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin-Cioclateu method, while in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed via the DPPH assay. In vitro anti-urolithic testing involved the use of turbidimetry in kinetic experiments to evaluate calcium oxalate nucleation and aggregation. Results: The IC50 values for antioxidant activity against DPPH were 8.67 mg/mL for fruit extracts and 0.57 mg/mL for leaf extracts. Furthermore, the investigated extracts exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal nucleation and aggregation. At the highest concentrations of leaf and fruit extracts, the corresponding inhibition rates were 74.47% and 66.06% for the nucleation test and 67.75% and 54.19% for the aggregation assay, respectively. Conclusions: These findings substantiate the traditional usage of Capparis spinosa L. in managing urinary lithiasis, suggesting its potential application as either a preventive measure or a therapeutic intervention for urinary stone formation. Keywords: Antioxidant, Calcium oxalate, Capparis spinosa L., Urolithiasis, Polyphenols.

Nickel as a modifier of calcium oxalate: an in situ liquid cell TEM investigation of nucleation and growth.

Despite extensive research on the nucleation and growth of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals, there are still several challenges and unknowns that remain. In particular, the role of trace metal elements in the promotion or inhibition of CaOx crystals is not well understood. In the present study, in situ graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (in situ GLC TEM) was used to observe real-time, nanoscale transformations of CaOx crystals in the presence of nickel ions (Ni2+). The results showed that Ni2+ form Ni-water complexes, acting as a shape-directing species, generating a unique morphology and altering growth kinetics. Transient adsorption of Ni-water complexes resulted in a metastable phase formation of calcium oxalate trihydrate. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that Ni2+ acts as a weak inhibitor which slows down the CaOx crystallization, elucidating that Ni2+ impacts small-sized CaOx clusters by bringing more water into the clusters. This work highlighted the intricacies behind the effect of Ni2+ on CaOx biomineralization that were made possible to discern using in situ GLC TEM.

Dual Mechanism of Natural Polyphenols on crystal whiskers formation on calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal surface

Designing (macro)molecules controlling crystallization is an essential approach to regulate structure and properties of crystalline materials and circumvent detrimental mineralization in nature, biological, and synthetic systems. Here we discovered four novel, natural polyphenols, including gallic acid, ellagic acid, punicalagin, and tannic acid, as a new class of inhibitors for nucleation and crystal growth of calcium oxalate (CaOx), a primary constitution of kidney stones. Study of time-resolved growth reveals that polyphenols regulate the kinetics of crystal-liquid interface acting as a dual role of growth promoter and inhibitor which displays a new record of growth promotion up to 75% or complete suppression, dependent upon the modifier concentration. Time-elapsed in situ atomic force microscopy measurements unveil these modifiers regulate the growth mode from spiral-mediated to generation of two-dimensional (2D) islands and layer spreading mechanism, leading to formation of step bunches growing out of (010) surface and forming macroscopically crystal whiskers. The governing regime between growth promotion and inhibition is determined by inhibitors concentration but can be influenced by crystallization driving force. Such unique growth mechanism of crystal whiskers may also provide potential implications for understanding and synthesizing branched and hierarchical structures of biomimetic materials.

“EFFECT OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS Q, 6C, 12C, 30C, 200C, 1M AS AN INHIBITOR OF CALCIUM OXALATE AND CALCIUM PHOSPHATE CRYSTALLIZATION IN VITRO STUDY”

Background: Urolithiasis is one of the common conditions in the society and it needs medical attention due to its increase in prevalence. The use of the homeopathic medicines has found to be,of great importance in the treatment of urolithiasis and certainly homoeopathy is a promising eld in this condition. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of urolithiasis and the inhibitory action of homeopathic drug Tribulus terrestris by in vitro experiment. Materials and Method: Homoeopathic preparation of Tribulus terrestris Q, 6C, 12C, 30C, 200C, 1M was planned to evaluate in vitro calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystallization using spectro-photometric and colorimetric assay respectively. Considering the role of reactive oxygen species as one of the etiological factors in stone formation, effective antioxidant activity of Tribulus terrestris was also performed by 2,2- diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Result: Tribulus terrestris Q, 200C and 1M exerted maximum inhibition as 33.62%, 23.89% and 23.00% respectively to calcium oxalate nucleation assay whereas, Tribulus terrestris Q, 6C, 12C, 30C, 200C, 1M exerted maximum inhibition to calcium oxalate aggregation assay up to 76.19%. Tribulus terrestris 12C and 30C showed maximum inhibition as 82.28% and 16. 21% to calcium and phosphate ions respectively. Presence of antioxidant activity by DPPH radical assay for Tribulus terrestris Q and 12C which showed percentage inhibition as 33.11% and 0.95% respectively. Conclusions:Homoeopathic preparation Tribulus terrestris has potential effect on inhibition of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate crystallization and also homoeopathic preparation of Tribulus terrestris is capable of showing presence of phytochemicals; anti-oxidant activity when performed by in vitro experiment.

Elucidating the role of hyaluronic acid in the structure and morphology of calcium oxalate crystals

Recent surge in reports describing new additives that inhibiting the growth and nucleation of calcium oxalate (CaOx), the most common component of renal calculi or kidney stones, have rekindled interest in CaOx crystallization. In this in vitro study, the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA), a protein commonly found in urine, on the morphology and phase of the CaOx crystals is investigated. CaOx crystals were crystallized at pH 5.8 and 37 °C with a [Ca2+]:[C2O42-] ratio of 20:1, which is close to physiological conditions, in aqueous solution and artificial urine media. The obtained crystals were characterized structurally, morphologically and in terms of their surface charge. The crystals precipitated in aqueous solution without the HA additive were pure phase calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals with typical hexagonal morphology. The addition of HA partially promotes the transformation of COM into calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) in aqueous solution. However, the only solid phase to form in artificial urine media with and without HA was identified as COD with tetragonal bipyramidal morphology. The results of this investigation will contribute to the understanding of the role HA plays on the morphology, structure, and thermal characteristics of CaOx and ultimately facilitate the development of effective treatments for kidney stones.

Antioxidant activity of sulfated Porphyra yezoensis polysaccharides and their regulating effect on calcium oxalate crystal growth

The nucleation, growth and aggregation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals and the oxidative damage of renal tubular epithelial cells are the key factors to induce kidney stones. In this study, degraded Porphyra yezoensis polysaccharide (PYP0) with 14.14% sulfate group (–OSO3−) content was modified via the sulfur trioxide–pyridine method to obtain three kinds of sulfated P. yezoensis polysaccharides (PYPs), namely, PYPS1, PYPS2, and PYPS3, with –OSO3− group contents of 17.11%, 20.28%, and 27.14% respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR analyses showed that the –OSO3− groups replaced the hydroxyl groups at the C2, C4, and C6 positions on (1 → 3)-linked β-D-galactose, the basic structural skeleton unit of PYP0. The antioxidant activity of the PYPSs increased after sulfation, and their scavenging capacity for OH and DPPH free radicals was enhanced with the increase in their –OSO3− group content. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal growth experiments showed that sulfated PYPs promoted the conversion of the thermodynamically stable and sharp CaOx monohydrate (COM) crystals into the thermodynamically unstable and round CaOx dihydrate crystals. With the increase in the –OSO3− group content of the polysaccharides, the concentration of soluble Ca2+ ions in the supernatant increased and the amount of CaOx precipitate decreased. PYPs were nontoxic to human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and could protect HK-2 from oxidative damage caused by nano-COM and reduce the level of reactive oxygen species in cells. PYPS3, which had the highest degree of sulfation, had the best protective capability. The results of this work showed that sulfation improved the biological activity of PYPs. This study could provide inspiration for the development of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of kidney stones.

English

The present study was designed to evaluate the antiurolithiatic activity of selected plants extracts (Achyranthes aspera, Lawsonia inermis, Ficus benghalensis, Raphnus sativus and Macrotyloma uniflorum). The methanol extract of selected plants was analysed for in-vitro antiurolithiatic activity using nucleation, aggregation and growth assay of calcium oxalate (CaOX) monohydrate crystals. The nucleation, aggregation and growth of CaOx crystals were significantly inhibited by all selected plant extracts. The highest inhibition of CaOX nucleation was shown by R. sativus (55.21±1.9%) followed by M. uniflorum (53.91±1.1%) and the least by F. benghalensis (43.63±0.8%) at 1.0 mg/mL. The highest inhibition of calcium CaOX aggregation was shown by R. sativus (61.6±1.6%) which was very close to Cystone (63.28±2.5%). The growth of CaOX was highly inhibited by A. aspera (42.17±1.0%) followed by M. uniflorum (40.27±1.4%) with lowest inhibition by F. benghalensis (31.44±1.4%) as compared to Cystone (43.35 ±0.9%). The study showed that the selected plants showed the significant antiurolithiatic activity against CaOX crystals, which could be a potential source for the treatment of renal stone disease. Key words: Antiurolithiatic, calcium oxalate, nucleation, aggregation, methanol extracts.

ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA DỊCH TRÍCH CÂY TỪ BI (BLUMÉA BALSAMIFERA) LÊN SỰ ỨC CHẾ HÌNH THÀNH TINH THỂ CALCIUM OXALATE GÂY BỆNH SỎI THẬN TRONG ĐIỀU KIỆN IN VITRO

Nghiên cứu “Ảnh hưởng của dịch trích cây Từ bi (Bluméa balsamifera) lên sự ức chế hình thành tinh thể Calcium oxalate gây bệnh sỏi thận trong điều kiện in vitro” được thực hiện để đánh giá khả năng ức chế tinh thể Calcium oxalate, gồm ba giai đoạn chính là hình thành, phát triển, và ngưng tụ. Mẫu cây Từ bi được ly trích bằng phương pháp ngâm dầm với ethanol 80,00% để tạo cao chiết. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy, độ ẩm của mẫu đạt 82,83%, và hiệu suất cao chiết đạt 5,79%. Cao chiết cây Từ bi có sự hiện diện của các hợp chất flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, terpenoid, tanin, và phenol. Cao chiết cây Từ bi có khả năng ức chế hình thành hạt nhân tinh thể Calcium oxalate với giá trị IC50 là 4,25 mg/mL. Cao chiết cây Từ bi có hiệu quả ức chế sự phát triển của tinh thể Calcium oxalate và giá trị IC50 của cao chiết đạt 2,99 mg/mL. Cuối cùng, cao chiết là cây Từ bi có khả năng ức chế ngưng tụ của tinh thể Calcium oxalate và giá trị IC50 đạt 2,56 mg/mL.

Anti-urolithiasis activity of <em>Vaccinium macrocarpon</em> fruits: An <em>in vitro </em>study

Objective: To perform the phytochemical screening and in vitro Calcium Oxalate anti-urolithaitic activity of Vaccinium macrocarpon aqueous and ethanolic fruit extracts. Methods: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts from, fruit pulp was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening and the anti-urolithiasis activity was evaluated on in vitro models like Calcium Oxalate dissolution assay, Calcium Oxalate nucleation and aggregation assay. Results: Following the phytochemical screening it was concluded that the ethanolic and aqueous extracts were found to be rich in flavonoids, steroids, phenols, coumarins, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. The anti urolithiatic activity was found to be dose dependent. A 35.6±0.06 and 33.43±0.02 percentage of Calcium Oxalate nucleation was exhibited by the 40mg/ml aqueous and methanolic extracts respectively, while percentage inhibition of Calcium Oxalate aggregation was found to be 32.2±0.06 and 34.6±0.02 by 40mg/ml dilution of aqueous and methanolic extracts respectively. However the aqueous and methanolic extracts exhibited a higher capacity to dissolve the Calcium Oxalate crystals prepared homogenously. Percentage inhibitions of 44.2±0.06 and 47.3±0.02 were shown by the aqueous and methanolic extracts respectively. Conclusions: The study indicates that the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Vaccinium macrocarpon fruits showed inhibition against the important phases of Calcium Oxalate urolithiasis like nucleation and aggregation. It also aids the dissolution of the Calcium Oxalate crystals prepared. Owing to the rich presence of polyphenols and flavanoids, Vaccinium macrocarpon proves to be an easily available and a beneficial alternative or adjunctive treatment for Calcium Oxalate urolithiasis. Further in vivo and clinical explorations are required to confirm the efficacy of Vaccinium macrocarpon as an antiurolithiatic.

Effects of Various Inhibitors on the Nucleation of Calcium Oxalate in Synthetic Urine

A new synthetic urine was adopted in this work to study the nucleation kinetics of calcium oxalate using a batch crystallizer for various supersaturations at 37 °C. In the studied new synthetic urine, three additional components (urea, uric acid and creatinine) within the normal physiological ranges were added to the commonly-used synthetic urine to simulate human urine more closely. The interfacial energy for the nucleation of calcium oxalate was determined based on classical nucleation theory using the turbidity induction time measurements. The effects of various inhibitors, including magnesium, citrate, hydroxycitrate, chondroitin sulfate, and phytate, on the nucleation of calcium oxalate were investigated in detail. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the influences of these inhibitors on the preferential nucleation of the different hydrates of calcium oxalate crystals.

A New Perspective of Gallic Acid on Calcium Oxalate Nucleation

The therapeutics for nephrolithiasis have created an awareness of the potential effects of crystal modifiers on the biocrystallization process. The crystallization of calcium oxalate, a primary con...

Screening of Phytochemical Compounds and Assessment of Antiurolithiatic Activity of Pisonia Alba Leaves Extracts against DNA Damage

This work investigate the Phytochemical constituents of Pisoniaalba (PA) leaves using standard protocols and to determine its DNA damage inhibition and Antiurolithiatic capability. Dried leaves of Pisoniaalba were used to screen and quantify the phyto constituents in different organic solvents extracts that are analysed by GCMS, FTIR and HPTLC. In the presence of PUC18 plasmid DNA, the DNA damage inhibition assay was performed by photolysing H2O2 with UV radiation and agarose gel electrophoresis with irradiated DNA. The invivo antiurolithic assay was performed by nucleation method. Pisoniaalbain's phytochemical analysis reveals the existence of secondary metabolite components including glycosides, resins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and alkaloids, etc.. ELPA express the maximum quantity of phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids which were 30.44 ±0.65 mg TAE/g extract, 28.51 ± 1.19 mg RE/g extract, 28.08 ± 0.08 mg of AE/g of extract, 29.94 ± 0.32 mg RE/g extract respectively. The GC-MS assessment findings confirmed the presence of nine ELPA phyto compounds accompanied by eleven ALPA phytoc ompounds. It was also observed that Pisoniaalba leaves prevents DNA damage in UV and H2O2 treated plasmid DNA. The invitro Antiurolithiatic research indicates that ELPA was more efficient in blocking calcium oxalate nucleation. From the obtained results it was proven that the Pisonia alba leaves has potential secondary metabolites with therapeutic role mainly against urolithiasis. Both invitro and in vivo analysis demonstrates that ELPA significantly reduces crystal formation that are causative of renal stones. These evidences suggest that Pisoniaalbacan be further investigated for the prevention and treatment of urolithiais

STUDY OF IN VITRO ANTI-LITHIATIC EFFECT OF IPOMOEA BATATAS (L) LEAVES AND TUBEROUS ROOTS

Objective: The present study was to demonstrate the in vitro anti-lithiatic effect of Ipomoea batatas (Convolvulaceae) leaves and tuberous roots.Methods: The obtained ethanolic extract of I. batatas leaves and tuberous roots (EIBL and EIBR) and aqueous extract of I. batatas leaves and roots (AIBL and AIBR) were used for this in vitro study. The dissolution method of calcium oxalate by titrimetry method and calcium phosphate by colorimetric method was studied. Nucleation and aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals were determined by a spectrophotometric assay.Results: In the estimation of calcium oxalate by titrimetry method, the I. batatas leaves and roots have very significant (p<0.01) capability to dissolve calcium oxalate. Percentage dissolution of calcium oxalate crystals was found to be 37.53%, 22.74%, 39.74%, and 24.28% for EIBL, AIBL, EIBR, and AIBR, respectively. In the estimation of calcium phosphate by colorimetric method, the percentage dissolution of calcium phosphate crystals by EIBL, AIBL, EIBR, and AIBR was found to be 67.15%, 43.17%, 76.74%, and 47.96%, respectively. The I. batatas leaves and roots were significantly (p<0.01) dissolved calcium phosphate also. The results were clearly shown that I. batatas extracts significantly (p<0.01) inhibited both nucleation and aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals by concentration-dependent manner. The maximum percent inhibition of calcium oxalate nucleation by EIBL, AIBL, EIBR, and AIBR was found to be 59.09%, 50.0%, 84.09%, and 47.73%, respectively, at 1000 μg/ml. The EIBL, AIBL, EIBR, and AIBR were inhibited calcium oxalate aggregation by 63.46%, 36.54%, 84.61%, and 42.3%, respectively, at 1000 μg/ml.Conclusions: The results clearly indicate that I. batatas leaves and tuberous roots were found to express in vitro anti-lithiatic potential.

A non-classical view on calcium oxalate precipitation and the role of citrate

Although calcium oxalates are relevant biominerals, their formation mechanisms remain largely unresolved. Here, we investigate the early stages of calcium oxalate formation in pure and citrate-bearing solutions. Citrate is used as a well-known oxalate precipitation inhibitor; moreover, it resembles the functional domains of the biomolecules that modulate biomineralization. Our data suggest that calcium oxalate forms after Ca2+ and C2O42− association into polynuclear stable complexes that aggregate into larger assemblies, from which amorphous calcium oxalate nucleates. Previous work has explained citrate inhibitory effects according to classical theories. Here we show that citrate interacts with all early stage CaC2O4 species (polynuclear stable complexes and amorphous precursors), inhibiting calcium oxalate nucleation by colloidal stabilization of polynuclear stable complexes and amorphous calcium oxalate. The control that citrate exerts on calcium oxalate biomineralization may thus begin earlier than previously thought. These insights provide information regarding the mechanisms governing biomineralization, including pathological processes (e.g., kidney stone formation).

In vitro Inhibition of Calcium Oxalate Nucleation by Extract-based Fractions of Aerial Parts and Roots of Aerva lanata (Linn.) Juss. ex Schult

The current investigation is an attempt to explore the comparative in vitro antiurolithic potential of various phytoconstituent-rich fractions derived from the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts and roots of Aerva lanata (Linn.) Juss. ex Schult (Amaranthaceae). The antiurolithic assay was performed by nucleation method. The analysis revealed the phenolic and flavonoid containing fraction from aerial parts to be the most active (71.01±1.13%) amongst the different extract-derived fractions compared to the one obtained from roots (54.61±2.30%). Besides, fluorescence analysis and physicochemical evaluation were carried out according to the official guidelines and supported the quality control of the plant material. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the fractions was also performed and confirmed the presence of various metabolites. Additionally, the content of tannins, total phenolics and flavonoids were also determined spectrophotometrically and found to be comparatively higher in aerial parts (tannin content of 4.34±0.63 mg tannic acid equivalent/g extract, total phenolic content of 127.84±1.50 gallic acid equivalent/g extract and total flavonoid content of 77.61±3.78 rutin equivalent/g extract) than roots (tannin content of 3.03±0.63 mg tannic acid equivalent/g extract, total phenolic content of 98.09±1.10 gallic acid equivalent/ g extract and total flavonoid content of 62.81±5.69 rutin equivalent/g extract). Hence, the present study aids in screening out the best active extract derived fraction exerting litholytic efficacy, which provides a route to further isolation of lead bioactive compounds contributing to significant antiurolithic potency of this traditionally employed herb of immense pharmacological spectrum.

In vitro study of aqueous leaf extract of Chenopodium album for inhibition of calcium oxalate and brushite crystallization

The leaves of Chenopodium album Linn. are traditionally used for treatment of kidney diseases and urinary stones. The present work investigated the effect of aqueous extract of leaves of C. album (CAAE) on in-vitro crystallization of CaOx and brushite crystals. Crystallization was studied by using nucleation and aggregation assay of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals and growth assay of calcium oxalate monohydrate and brushite crystals. The effects of CAAE and cystone on slope of nucleation and aggregation as well as growth of calcium oxalate crystallization were evaluated spectrophotometrically. The densities of the formed crystals were compared under microscope. The effects of CAAE and citric acid on growth of brushite crystals were studied by using single diffusion gel growth technique, and the parameters evaluated were length, morphology and average size of the deposited crystals. CAAE significantly inhibited the slope of nucleation and aggregation of CaOx crystallization, and decreased the crystal density. It also inhibited the growth and caused the dissolution of brushite crystals. The standard drug cystone or citric acid also exhibited similar effects. The study reveals that the leaves of C. album were found effective in the prevention of the experimentally induced urinary stones and substantiate the traditional claim. It is concluded that the leaves of C. album have beneficial inhibitory effect on in-vitro crystallization of CaOx and CHPD (brushite) crystals.

Antioxidant, Anti-Nephrolithe Activities and in Vitro Digestibility Studies of Three Different Cyanobacterial Pigment Extracts.

Phycobiliprotein-containing water and carotenoid-containing methanolic extracts of three different cyanobacteria, Pseudanabaena sp., Spirulina sp. and Lyngbya sp., were studied for their DPPH scavenging, iso-bolographic studies, and anti-nephrolithe activities. The best EC50 values for DPPH scavenging were in Lyngbya water (LW, 18.78 ± 1.57 mg·mg−1 DPPH) and Lyngbya methanol (LM, 59.56 ± 37.38 mg·mg−1 DPPH) extracts. Iso-bolographic analysis revealed most of the combinations of extracts were antagonistic to each other, although LM—Spirulina methanol (SM) 1:1 had the highest synergistic rate of 86.65%. In vitro digestion studies showed that DPPH scavenging activity was considerably decreased in all extracts except for Pseudanabaena methanol (PM) and LM after the simulated digestion. All of the extracts were effective in reducing the calcium oxalate crystal size by nearly 60%–65% compared to negative control, while PM and Spirulina water (SW) extracts could inhibit both nucleation and aggregation of calcium oxalate by nearly 60%–80%.

Evaluation of antiurolithiatic and antioxidant potential of Lepidagathis prostrata: A Pashanbhed plant

Context: Oxidative stress acts as an essential mediator in the pathophysiology of urolithiasis. Lepidagathis prostrata Dalz. (Acanthaceae) is a Pashanbhed plant that is recommended for the management of urolithiasis; however, no scientific validation has been reported.Objectives: To evaluate the antiurolithiatic and antioxidant potential of L. prostrata.Materials and methods: Methanol extract (LPM) and fractions; petroleum ether (LPPE), ethyl acetate (LPEA), n-butanol (LPBU) and aqueous (LPAQ) were prepared. In vitro antiurolithiatic activity was evaluated by the capacity to inhibit calcium oxalate (CaOx) nucleation and aggregation at different concentrations of extract/fractions (0.04–3 mg/mL) for 30 min. Total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant potential were determined. A validated HPTLC method was performed to quantify lupeol and β-sitosterol.Results: LPEA exhibited the highest dose-dependent inhibition of CaOx nucleation (IC50: 336.23 ± 30.79 µg/mL) and aggregation (IC50: 149.63 ± 10.31 µg/mL), which was significantly (p < 0.05) better than standard Cystone®. The polar LPBU fraction was enriched with phenols (47.34 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (20.38 ± 0.05 mg QE/g), which correlates with its highest antioxidant potential in DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide scavenging and iron chelating activities (IC50: 1.18–87.34 µg/mL). To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the presence of lupeol and β-sitosterol in L. prostrata.Conclusion: The antiurolithiatic activity of L. prostrata is probably mediated through the inhibition of CaOx crystallization. In addition to its free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities, it would act as an excellent agent for the prevention of urolithiasis.

Potential role of fluctuations in the composition of renal tubular fluid through the nephron in the initiation of Randall's plugs and calcium oxalate crystalluria in a computer model of renal function.

Potential role of fluctuations in the composition of renal tubular fluid through the nephron in the initiation of Randall's plugs and calcium oxalate crystalluria in a computer model of renal function.

Templated Biomineralization on Self-Assembled Protein Nanofibers Buried in Calcium Oxalate Raphides of Musa spp.

Biological organisms possess an unparalleled ability to control crystallization of biominerals with convoluted internal structures. For example, an occluded organic matrix can interact with the mineral during its formation to control its morphology and structure. Although related matrix proteins that preferentially nucleate minerals have been identified, the mechanisms elucidating the structural and chemical complexity of calcium oxalate biominerals in plants remain unclear. Here, we show that a protein nanofiber (14 kDa) is embedded inside raphide (needle-shaped calcium oxalate) crystals of banana (Musa spp.), and that nanometer-scaled calcium oxalate spheres are arranged along the long axes of this central proteinaceous filament to form laminated structures through an aggregation-based growth mechanism, resulting in the final product of elongated and tapered hexagonal crystals. We further demonstrate that 11 amino acid peptide segments, with hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues rich in proline derived from the C-terminus of this full protein sequence, in vitro self-assemble into fibers and accelerate calcium oxalate nucleation kinetics. Remarkably, elongated and organized microstructures which are similar in appearance to natural raphide crystals are formed, emphasizing interactions between the mineral and self-assembled protein fibers. We anticipate that the present investigation of the structural and morphological complexity of plant calcium oxalate crystals and the underlying mechanisms of their formation will contribute to our understanding not only how plants evolved these sophisticated structures and morphologies for survival and adaptation, but also ultimately provide useful clues about how to maximally sequester calcium ions and/or oxalate in a confined compartment.