Growth Inhibition of Struvite Crystals in the Presence of Herbal Extract Boerhaavia diffusa Linn

Abstract

Problem statement: The formation of a urinary stone, known as nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, renal calculi or kidney stone is a serious, debilitating problem in all societies throughout the world. Struvite or Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate Hexahydrate (AMPH) is one of the components of urinary stone (calculi). Struvite stones are commonly found in women. Struvites form in humans as a result of urinary tract infection with ureolithic urea splitting micro organisms. These stones can grow rapidly forming "staghorn-calculi", which is more painful urological disorder. Therefore, it is of prime importance to study the growth and inhibition of Struvite crystals. Approach: This in vitro study had been carried out in the presence of herbal extract of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. by using single diffusion gel growth technique. Sodium metasilicate solution of specific gravity 1.05 and an aqueous solution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate of 0.5 M concentration were mixed so that the pH value 7.0 could be set. After the gelation, equal amount of supernatant solution of 1.0 M magnesium acetate prepared with 0.5 and 1% concentrations of the herbal extract of B. diffusa Linn. were gently poured on the set gels in the respective test tubes in the aseptic medium. Results: The growth of crystals without and with herbal extracts was monitored at regular time intervals. As the concentration of B. diffusa Linn. increased, the inhibition of crystals also increased in the gel media as well as the dissolution of crystals at the gel-liquid interface increases. The de-fragmentation of some grown crystals was also noticed. Conclusion: The herbal extract of B. diffusa Linn. inhibited the growth of struvite crystals in vitro. This study incorporated multidisciplinary interests and may be used for formulating the strategy for prevention or dissolution of urinary stones.

In vitro crystallization, characterization and growth-inhibition study of urinary type struvite crystals

“…The results of the experiments further prove the citrate inhibition theory [50]. Previously, the detailed experimental data and outcomes of the growth inhibition studies of struvite crystals using different herbal extracts are very well discussed by Chauhan et al [47][48][49]. These experiments depicted that the growth rates were comparatively lower for the each of the herbal extracts in comparison to the control case.…”

“…The gel acts as a growth medium and provides a simplified model for the complex process of urinary calculi growth. Recently, Chauhan and Joshi [46] have reported the growth inhibition studies of struvite by the juice of Citrus medica Linn as well as the herbal extracts of Commiphora wightii [47], Boerhaavia diffusa Linn [48] and Rotula aquatica Lour [49]. The medicinal values of the herbal extracts, constituent elements, experimental techniques and results were elaborately reported elsewhere [47][48][49].…”

“…The reduction in number, dimensions, total mass, total volume, growth rate, depth of growth, as well as enhanced dissolution rate and the fragmentation of grown struvite crystals indicated the potential inhibitive effect of these extracts [47][48][49]. The remarkable phenomenon of fragmentation of the grown struvite crystals was observed for all the three tested herbal extracts.…”

Studies on the effect of phyllanthus emblica extract on the growth of urinary type struvite crystals invitro

“…Struvite, accounts for 10-20 % of all renal calculi [2], and is one the major component of urinary stones. These stones can grow rapidly forming "staghorn-calculi", which is a more painful urological disorder [3] threatening human life particularly the women. Priestly and Dunn [4] reported that these stones have a significant chance of causing death in affected patients.…”

Ethnobotanical study of antilithic plants of Bhopal district

“…Lot of survey work for study of antilithic medicinal plants has been done by different researchers. These include studies on medicinal plants of Muzaffaranagar district (Chauhan et al, 2009) and Aravali regions of Rajasthan (Sharma et al, 2011) that are used in the treatment of urinary tract and kidney stone; studies on urinary diseases and ethnobotany among pastoral nomads in the Middle East (Rabia, 2005) and on herbal folk medicines used for urinary complaints in tribal pockets of Northeast Gujarat (Punjani, 2010).…”