Ammi Visnaga L., a Potential Medicinal Plant: A Review.

Ammi visnaga L. (Visnaga daucoides Gaertn., Family Apiaceae), also known as Khella Baldi or toothpick weed, is an annual or biennial herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region of North Africa, Asia, and Europe. The plant is known to have been used in traditional medicine a long time ago. Nowadays, it is used in modern medicine to treat many aliments such as renal colic and coronary insufficiency, and is used as an antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial, with a larvicidal effect on mosquito larvae. Peer-reviewed studies show that these pharmacological activities are due its valuable chemical constituents that include mainly essential oil, polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids, as well as γ-pyrones, represented mainly by khellin and visnagin. Its essential oil is reported to have antiviral, antibacterial, and larvicidal effects, while its flavonoid content is responsible for its antioxidant activity. Its γ-pyrone content has a powerful effect on facilitating the passage of kidney stones and relieving renal colic, in addition to having a relaxant effect on smooth muscle including that of the coronary arteries. The current review represents the progress in research on A. visnaga in terms of either its chemistry or biological activities. This review represents scientific support material for the use of the plant by the pharmaceutical industry.

[Management of ureteric colic with ketorolac and nifedipin vs. ketorolac and tamsulosin in the emergency room]. / Manejo del cólico ureteral con ketorolaco y nifedipina frente a ketorolaco y tamsulosina en el servicio de urgencias.

BACKGROUND: Ureteric colic is the most common symptom of lithiasis. It is caused by the presence of stones accumulated in the renal papillae. These stones often migrate down the ureter, causing a ureteric colic, characterized by a severe pain in the lumbar region. The aim of this study was to compare the use of ketorolac and nifedipine vs. ketorolac and tamsulosin for the medical treatment of pain caused by stones in the lower ureter. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 150 patients of 21-years or older with stones in the lower third of the ureter. 50% received ketorolac and nifedipine and the other 50%, ketorolac and tamsulosin. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) was used for the assessment of pain at admission and 4 and 12 hours after the treatment was administered. We used descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon, chi-squared and Poisson regression). RESULTS: Mean age was 38.17 years; 54.7% were male and 45.3% female. NPRS mean was 9.69 (initially), 7.42 (at 4 hours) and 2.05 (at 12 hours). There were no significant differences in the initial measurement of pain between groups (p < 0.005); four and 12 hours later the pain decreased more in patients managed with ketorolac and nifedipine, p = 0.0041. There were no complications nor side effects in both treatments. CONCLUSION: The use of ketorolac and nifedipine is more effective than the use of ketorolac and tamsulosin for the management of pain caused by lower ureteral colic during the first 12 hours of treatment.

Introducción: el cólico renoureteral es la manifestación más común de la litiasis. Se trata de la presencia de cálculos en las papilas renales que frecuentemente migran hacia el uréter, ocasionando un cólico renoureteral, caracterizado por un dolor intenso en la región lumbar o en sus flancos. Se buscó comparar el uso del ketorolaco y nifedipino frente a ketorolaco y tamsulosina para el manejo del dolor ocasionado por litiasis en el tercio inferior del uréter. Métodos: estudio longitudinal en 150 pacientes mayores de 21 años con litiasis en tercio inferior del uréter. Al 50% se le administró ketorolaco y nifedipino y al otro 50% ketorolaco y tamsulosina. Se utilizó la escala numérica de dolor (END) al ingreso, a las 4 y a las 12 horas. La estadística fue descriptiva e inferencial (U de Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon, chi cuadrada y regresión de Poisson). Resultados: la edad promedio fue 38.17 años y 54.7% de los pacientes fueron hombres. Inicialmente la END tuvo una media de 9.69, de 7.42 a las 4 horas y de 2.05 a las 12 horas. En la medición inicial del dolor no hubo diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos (p > 0.005); 4 y 12 horas después el dolor disminuyó más en los pacientes manejados con ketorolaco y nifedipino: p = 0.0041 y p = 0.000, respectivamente. No hubo complicaciones ni efectos secundarios en ambos tratamientos. Conclusión: la mancuerna ketorolaco y nifedipino es más efectiva que la del ketorolaco y la tamsulosina para el manejo del dolor del cólico renoureteral inferior durante las primeras 12 horas de tratamiento.

Comparison of Tamsulosin, Nifedipine, and Placebo for Ureteric Colic.

Clinical question Do calcium channel blockers or alpha blockers improve renal stone passage when compared with placebo? Article chosen Pickard R, Starr K, MacLennan G, et al. Medical expulsive therapy in adults with ureteric colic: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2015;386(9991):25-31, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60933-3.

The Effect of Lavender Oil in Patients with Renal Colic: A Prospective Controlled Study Using Objective and Subjective Outcome Measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usability of lavender oil as an adjuvant in the medical treatment of pain due to renal stones. METHODS: One hundred patients age 19-64 years diagnosed with renal colic were included in the study. Group 1 (n=50) received standard medical therapy (diclofenac sodium, 75 mg intramuscularly); group 2 (n=50) received aromatherapy (lavender oil) in addition to the standard medical treatment. In both groups, the severity of the pain was graded between 0 (no pain) and 10 (severe pain) by using the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The VAS values at the beginning and at 10 and 30 minutes in group 1 were 7.70±1.61, 5.02±2.20, and 2.89±1.96, respectively; in group 2, the values were 7.83±2.02, 4.42±2.46, and 2.20±1.74, respectively. The VAS values for the male patients in group 1 at the beginning and at 10 and 30 minutes were 7.61±1.47, 4.80±2.00, and 2.67±1.74; in the female patients, the values were 7.81±1.80, 5.40±2.41, and 3.72±1.94. For the male patients in group 2, the VAS values at the beginning and at 10 and 30 minutes were 8.25±2.01, 4.93±2.72, and 2.96±1.90, respectively; for the female patients, the values were 7.52±1.94, 4.15±1.95, and 1.21±0.91, respectively. Results are presented as mean±SD. Although there was no significant difference between the VAS values at the beginning and at 10 minutes in both groups, the VAS values at 30 minutes in the group receiving aromatherapy plus conventional treatment were statistically significantly low. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the use of aromatherapy, which is a nonpharmacologic treatment method, as an adjuvant to conventional treatment methods will help decrease pain, particularly in female patients.

Dermal scarification versus intramuscular diclofenac sodium injection for the treatment of renal colic: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

The aim of the study is to determine whether dermal scarification is equally effective for treating acute renal colic compared to diclofenac sodium intramuscular therapy. A prospective, randomized controlled study was conducted with methodologic rigor based on CONSORT criteria. A total of 291 patients, aged ≥ 18 years, suffering from acute renal colic were included in this trial and randomly assigned in two groups. Patients in the first group (A) received endodermal injection (dermal scarification) of 1 ml normal saline at the area of intensity of pain. The second group (B) received 75 mg diclofenac sodium by intramuscular injection. The success of each method defined the primary end point. Pain intensity before and after treatment was assessed using a visual analog scale. The time onset and the duration of analgesia were also recorded. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding hematuria (p = 0.158), stone identification at KUB (p = 0.751) and mean pain intensity (p = 0.609) before treatment initiation. The method was successful in 75.5 % of patients in group A and 74.3 % of patients in group B (p = 0.812). Mean pain reduction was comparable, 5.65 ± 3.05 in group A and 5.34 ± 2.99 in group B (p = 0.379), with dermal scarification eliciting its effect considerably faster, whereas the duration of analgesia was longer in the diclofenac group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dermal scarification could constitute an alternative method for treating renal colic as it is equally effective compared to the standard treatment of diclofenac sodium.

Treatment of loin pain suspected to be renal colic with papaverine hydrochloride: a prospective double-blind randomised study.

OBJECTIVE: • To assess the efficacy of papaverine hydrochloride combined with a diclofenac sodium suppository to relieve renal colic compared with diclofenac suppository monotherapy, as the effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on ureteric muscles might reduce the pain of renal colic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • A prospective, double-blind clinical study was performed. • In all, 550 patients aged 17-55 years with acute renal colic were randomised to two groups. Patients in one group (group A) received a diclofenac suppository (100 mg) plus saline 0.9% (placebo) and the other group (group B) received a diclofenac suppository (100 mg) plus intravenous (i.v.) papaverine hydrochloride (1.5 mg/kg up to 120 mg). • Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 0, 20 and 40 min after treatment. Further analgesia was provided at the patients' request (25 mg pethidine intramuscularly). RESULTS: • Baseline characteristics (sex, age, past history of similar pains) were similar in the two groups. • There were significant differences in VAS pain scores between 0 and 20 min and 0 and 40 min in both groups (P < 0.001). • At the end of study, 71.1% of patients in group A and 90.9% of patients in group B reported pain relief and did not require pethidine, respectively. • Significantly more patients in group A required further analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: • According to our results, i.v. papaverine hydrochloride plus a diclofenac suppository were more effective than the diclofenac suppository alone for treating acute renal colic. • Therefore, i.v. papaverine hydrochloride is a beneficial supplemental therapy to relieve renal colic pain, particularly combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

A multicentre, prospective, randomized trial: comparative efficacy of tamsulosin and nifedipine in medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteric stones with renal colic.

OBJECTIVE: • To determine the comparative efficacy of tamsulosin and nifedipine in medical expulsive therapy (MET) for distal ureteric stones with renal colic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • We evaluated the comparative efficacy of tamsulosin and nifedipine in MET in a prospective randomized trial of 3189 outpatients from 10 centres in China. • Eligible patients randomly received tamsulosin or nifedipine. Efficacies of the two agents in MET were compared at 4 weeks. • The primary endpoint was overall stone-expulsion rate. • Secondary endpoints were stone-expulsion time, rate of pain relief therapy, mean analgesic consumption for renal colic recurrence, and side-effects incidence. RESULTS: • Stone-expulsion rates in the tamsulosin group (group 1) were greater than those in the nifedipine group (group 2; P < 0.01). • There was a significant variation in stone-expulsion rates and times between groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.01); with improvements in stone-expulsion rate and time significantly better in group 1 than in group 2. • There was a significant variation in the rate of pain relief therapy for renal colic recurrence between groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.01); patients in group 1 required significantly less analgesics than those in group 2 (P < 0.01). • There were no statistically significant differences in side-effects incidence between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: • Administration of tamsulosin and nifedipine in MET was determined to be safe and effective for distal ureteric stones with renal colic. • Tamsulosin was significantly better than nifedipine in relieving renal colic and facilitating ureteric stone expulsion.

Assessment of clinical efficacy of intranasal desmopressin spray and diclofenac sodium suppository in treatment of renal colic versus diclofenac sodium alone.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of the combination of intranasal desmopressin spray and diclofenac sodium suppository on acute renal colic and compare it with diclofenac sodium suppository alone. METHODS: A total of 150 patients aged 15-65 years referred to our hospital with acute renal colic were included in a double-blind controlled clinical trial study. Patients in group 1 received desmopressin, 40 microg intranasally plus diclofenac sodium suppository 100 mg, and patients in group 2 received diclofenac sodium suppository 100 mg plus a placebo spray consisting of normal saline 0.9%. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the pain scores at 15 and 30 minutes between the 2 groups (P < .05). Also, significant differences were found in the mean pain scores in the first 15 and first 30 minutes after treatment between the 2 groups (P < .05). Of the patients in group 1, 37.3% had no pain relief and required pethidine. However, this rate in group 2 was 69.3%. In 17 cases, we prescribed pethidine within 20 minutes after treatment, and these patients were excluded from our study. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, intranasal desmopressin plus diclofenac sodium suppository caused prompt pain relief with significant decreases in pain scores after 15 and 30 minutes. We suggest that intranasal desmopressin spray is a useful supplemental therapy for renal colic in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially to reduce the use of opioids.

Renal colic in adults: NSAIDs and morphine are effective for pain relief.

(1) Renal colic is an acute syndrome involving unilateral flank pain, linked to an obstruction in the upper urinary tract. The pain is often intense. After having considered other diagnoses and checked for signs of complication (fever, oligoanuria), the first step is to control the pain; (2) Which non-invasive treatments have a positive risk-benefit balance in relieving this type of pain? To answer this question, we reviewed the available evidence, based on the standard Prescrire methodology; (3) According to a meta-analysis of 20 trials, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and strong opioid analgesics have comparable efficacy. The most widely studied NSAID is diclofenac, given intramuscularly at a dose of 50 mg or 75 mg. Pethidine is the best-assessed strong opioid, given intramuscularly at a dose of 50 mg to 100 mg, which corresponds to about 5 mg to 10 mg of morphine. Morphine is given intravenously; subcutaneous administration is an alternative although it has not been evaluated in renal colic; (4) In clinical trials, NSAIDs were associated with fewer adverse effects than opioids, which cause vomiting in about 20% of patients (versus about 6% with an NSAID); (5) NSAIDs expose patients to a risk of functional renal impairment, especially in patients with heart failure, renal artery stenosis, dehydration, renal impairment or ongoing treatment with a nephrotoxic drug, and the very elderly. NSAIDs should never be used during pregnancy; (6) According to one trial in 130 patients, the analgesic effect of the morphine and NSAID combination was greater than either agent used alone, in about 10% of patients; (7) Paracetamol has not been evaluated in comparative trials of renal colic, even for moderate pain; (8) Scopolamine is the only antispasmodic to have been evaluated in a comparative trial. Adding scopolamine to morphine did not seem to provide additional efficacy; (9) Other drugs, which have not been adequately tested as of early 2009, have no documented benefit in the treatment of the pain associated with renal colic; tamsulosin, nifedipine, desmopressin; (10) Among the non-drug measures tested, local active warming, taking care to avoid burns, was effective against pain according to one trial; pain was reduced by at least 50% using a device delivering 42 degrees C to the abdomen or lower back; (11) In pregnant women, morphine carries a lower risk of adverse effects than NSAIDs; (12) In practice, the treatment of renal colic is mainly based on taking an NSAID, or morphine when the NSAID does not adequately control the pain or when it is better to avoid using NSAIDs.