An aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga fruits and its constituents khellin and visnagin prevent cell damage caused by oxalate in renal epithelial cells

Abstract

Teas prepared from the fruits of Ammi visnaga L. (syn. “Khella”) have been traditionally used in Egypt as a remedy to treat kidney stones. It was the aim of our study to evaluate the effect of a Khella extract (KE) as well as the two major constituents khellin and visnagin on renal epithelial injury using LLC-PK1 and Madin-Darby-canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Both cell lines provide suitable model systems to study cellular processes that are possibly involved in the development of a renal stone. LLC-PK1 and MDCK cell lines were exposed to 300 µM oxalate (Ox) or 133 µg/cm2 calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) in presence or absence of 10, 50, 100 or 200 µg/mL KE. To evaluate cell damage, cell viability was assessed by determining the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). KE (e.g. 100 µg/ml) significantly decreased LDH release from LLC-PK1 (Ox: 8.46± 0.76%; Ox + 100 µg/ml KE: 5.41± 0.94%, p<0.001) as well as MDCK cells (Ox: 30.9± 6.58%; Ox + 100 µg/ml KE: 17.5± 2.50%, p<0.001), which indicated a prevention of cell damage. Similar effects for KE were observed in both cell lines when COM crystals were added. In LLC-PK1 cells khellin and visnagin both decreased the % LDH release significantly in cells that were pretreated with Ox or COM crystals. However, khellin and visnagin exhibited different responses in MDCK cells. Whereas khellin slightly reduced the % LDH release after exposure of the cells to Ox and COM crystals, visnagin significantly decreased % LDH release only after COM crystal exposure. Overall both compounds were more active in LLC-PK1 than in MDCK cells. In summary, exposure of renal epithelial cells to Ox or COM crystals was associated with a significant release of LDH indicating cell injury. Our data demonstrate that KE as well as khellin and visnagin could prevent renal epithelial cell damage caused by Ox and COM and could therefore play a potential role in the prevention of stone formation associated with hyperoxaluria.

Melanin Biosynthesis Inhibitory Activity of Compounds Isolated from Unused Parts of &lt;i&gt;Ammi visinaga&lt;/i&gt;

“…These compounds (Figure 1) are tetracosanoic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2), visnadine (3), khelllin (4), β-sitosterol glucoside (5), norkhellol (6), khellol (7), rhmnazin (8), cimifugin (9) and cis-khellactone-3'-β-glucopyranoside (10 mifugin (9) at concentration of 40 μg/mL showed cytotoxicity on B16 melenoma cells rather than melanin formation inhibition; β-sitosterol (2) and β-sitosterol glucoside (5) had no effect on melanin inhibition. Previously, khellin was reported to have some biological effects such as smooth muscle relaxant [20] and prevention of stone formation associated with hyperoxaluria [8], while in our study we concluded that khellin (4) is a promising compound which could be useful for treating hyperpigmentation, as a skin-whitening agent with less toxicity even than the standard drug arbutin. To the best of our knowledge, we obtained this compound from the waste of A. visinaga which caused a serious problem so we can get a great beneficial from these waste.…”

“…visinaga extracts have demonstrated to have a broad range of therapeutic effects such as antihyperglycemic [5], vasodilator effect [6], anti-inflammatory [7], and inhibition of oxalate nephrlithiasis [8].…”

An Aqueous Extract of the Leaves of Ficus religiosa Inhibits the Growth of Urinary Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate Dihydrate Crystals-An In-Vitro Study

“…Therefore, it is essential to find for an alternative means such as medicinal plants or phytotherapy [5]. Data from in vitro, in vivo studies and clinical trials reveal that phytotherapeutic agents could be useful as either an alternative or an adjunctive therapy in the management of urolithiasis [6].…”

Mosquitocidal Activity of Extracts from &lt;i&gt;Ammi visnaga &lt;/i&gt;(Apiaceae) Seeds

“…The seeds are tiny (about 2 mm long) and oval-shaped and have been used in traditional medicine to make herbal remedies to treat kidney stones [1]. Recent laboratory studies have shown that an aqueous extract of the seeds acts as a diuretic and inhibits the formation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys and prevents cell damage caused by oxalate in renal epithelial cells [2]. Plants in the apiaceae family are good sources of biologically active compounds [3]- [5].…”