Cucumis callosus (Rottl.) Cogn. fruit extract ameliorates calcium oxalate urolithiasis in ethylene glycol induced hyperoxaluric Rat model.

Cucumis callosus dry fruits are traditionally used as folk remedy to treat conditions like urethral irritations, urine stoppage or dribbling and other urinary ailments of man in north-west India. But no study is reported to validate this ethnic practice of using Cucumis fruit in urolithiasis. To evaluate anti-urolithiatic potential of Cucumis, hyperoxaluria was induced in rats by supplying 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) + 1% ammonium chloride (AC) in drinking water for 14 days. Anti-urolithiatic activity of Cucumis callosus hydro-ethanolic extract (CCHEE) was assessed by measuring blood and urine biochemical parameters, oxidative stress indices, histopathology and osteopontin (OPN) expression. Administration of EG-AC to rats caused hyperoxaluria, crystalluria, azotaemia, oxidant/antioxidant imbalance (increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO), and decrease in glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT)), up-regulation of OPN and calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal deposition in kidney. Treatment of afflicted rats with Cucumis fruits extract restored renal function to a great extent (CCHEE group), testified by improvement of stated parameters. Findings demonstrate curative efficacy of Cucumis fruit extract in EG induced urolithiasis of rats. The restoration of renal function was possibly by regulating renal stone formation via reducing urinary oxalate excretion, correcting oxidant/antioxidant imbalances, and reduced expression of OPN. Hence, results of this study validate the ethnic practice of using Cucumis fruit and conclude that fruit extracts have beneficial effects on CaOx urolithiasis and renal function.

Antiurolithiatic and antioxidant efficacy of Musa paradisiaca pseudostem on ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis in rat.

OBJECTIVE: Musa paradisiaca has been used in the treatment of urolithiasis by the rural people in South India. Therefore, we plan to evaluate its efficacy and possible mechanism of antiurolithiatic effect to rationalize its medicinal use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urolithiasis was induced in hyperoxaluric rat model by giving 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) for 28 days along with 1% ammonium chloride (AC) for the first 14 days. Antiurolithiatic effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of M. paradisiaca pseudostem (MUSA) was evaluated based on urine and serum biochemistry, microscopy of urine, oxidative/nitrosative indices, kidney calcium content, and histopathology. RESULTS: Administration of EG and AC resulted in increased crystalluria and oxaluria, hypercalciuria, polyuria, crystal deposition in urine, raised serum urea, and creatinine as well as nitric oxide concentration and erythrocytic lipid peroxidation in lithiatic group. However, MUSA treatment significantly restored the impairment in above kidney function test as that of standard treatment, cystone in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings demonstrate the efficacy of MUSA in EG-induced urolithiasis, which might be mediated through inhibiting various pathways involved in renal calcium oxalate formation, antioxidant effect, and potential to inhibit biochemical markers of renal impairment.

In vivo efficacy of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) fruit extract on experimental fluoride exposure in rats.

The study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of hydro-methanolic (1:1) extract of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) fruit pulp in removing body fluoride burden. Thirty rats were divided into five groups. Keeping no fluoride group as the control, rats of no treatment, low dose, middle dose and high dose groups received sodium fluoride orally at the rate of 200mg per kg body weight daily for 14 weeks. Rats of low dose, middle dose and high dose group simultaneously received tamarind fruit pulp extract at three doses, viz. 25 (low), 50 (medium) and 100mg (high) per kg body weight orally, respectively. Fluoride concentration in blood, urine and long bone of experimental rats was monitored to assess the efficacy of the extract. Mean serum fluoride concentration in fluoride exposed rats was 0.145 ± 0.009 and 0.783 ± 0.042 µg/ml on days 0 and 98. In comparison, fluoride concentrations in tamarind treated rats were 0.179 ± 0.021 and 0.633 ± 0.015; 0.179 ± 0.021 and 0.502 ± 0.025 and 0.176 ± 0.021 and 0.498 ± 0.030 µg/ml in low, medium and high dose groups, respectively on day 0 and day 98 of the experiment. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.01) increase in urinary fluoride excretion from day 28 onwards. The mean fluoride concentration in long bones of treated rats was significantly lower than the values recorded in fluoride exposed rats. These findings suggest that concomitant use of tamarind fruit pulp extract can reduce fluoride concentration in blood and bone and enhanced urinary excretion, indicating the ameliorative potential of fruits of tamarind in fluoride toxicity.

Indian medicinal herb: a source of lead and cadmium for humans and animals.

The authors aimed to analyze 35 commonly used medicinal plants in India by exploring the possibilities of translocation of lead and cadmium into humans and animals. They collected plant materials from the same sources used by traditional healers and commercial drug manufacturers and estimated lead and cadmium levels in leaf stem bark, roots, and seeds, depending on the medicinal value of the plant portion. The authors determined lead and cadmium content of the digested samples using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Lead and cadmium concentrations were higher in aerial parts of the medicinal plants than in the roots. Lead concentration in 54.29% of medicinal plants and cadmium concentration in 77.14% of medicinal plants exceeded the maximum permissible level designated by the World Health Organization. The results indicate that prolonged consumption of such medicinal plants may be detrimental to one's health.