Garcinia cambogia extract removes calcium oxalate kidney stones in both genetic and non-genetic Drosophila models of nephrolithiasis

Abstract

Kidney stone formers with family history have a high rate of stone recurrence after kidney stone removal surgery and there is no effective medication available for treatment. Here, we show that Garcinia cambogia extract (GCE) efficiently removes calcium oxalate kidney stones from Malpighian tubules in both genetic and non-genetic Drosophila models of nephrolithiasis, and hydroxycitrate -a major component of GCE, directly dissolves calcium oxalate stones in Drosophila Malpighian tubules ex vivo. Our study discovers a potential novel therapeutic strategy for the clinical treatment of nephrolithiasis and suggests that clinical-grade Garcinia cambogia extract could be used to treat patients with nephrolithiasis in the future.

Astragalus membranaceus Extract Prevents Calcium Oxalate Crystallization and Extends Lifespan in a Drosophila Urolithiasis Model

“…This result indicates that thiosulfate or oxalate mimics may act as competitive therapeutic inhibitors for the crystallization of CaOx. Fan et al used fruit flies to perform RNAi knockdown of nephrolithiasis-related genes in the principal cells of Malpighian tubules, and studied the effects of antilithic agents on CaOx crystal formation [ 18 ]. Therefore, genetic studies of stone disease in fruit flies may have future potential [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…This tropical fruit found in Southeast Asia, which is rich in HCA, is traditionally used for cooking purposes in India and may be a potential antilithogenic herb. Fan et al and Chen et al further studied HCA to analyze its preventative effects on CaOx formation in Drosophila models [ 15 , 18 , 40 ]. However, the ex vivo effect of HCA on the dissolution of CaOx crystals differed from that of both these groups when compared with that of K-citrate.…”

“…Methods of the dissolution of CaOx crystal ex vivo was modified from Fan et al [ 18 ]. Briefly, intact Malpighian tubules were dissected in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) under dissection microscope and transferred onto a slide from 3 weeks after lithogenesis.…”

Animal Models for Studying Stone Disease

“…This tropical fruit from Southeast Asia contains HCA, was traditionally used for cooking in India, and may be a potential anti-lithogenic herb. HCA was further studied for its preventive effect on calcium oxalate formation in the fly model [ 23 , 60 ].…”

“…However, a nation-wide population study of Wulingsan did not find its preventive effect clinically [ 70 ]. HCA has proven its antilithic effect both in vivo and in vitro [ 23 , 59 , 60 ]. However, further clinical trials for proving HCA’s effect are needed.…”