Inhibition of urinary calculi—a spectroscopic study

Abstract

Although herbal medicine is widely employed in inhibition of urinary calculi as an alternative and complementary curative method, the lack of detailed scientific studies that could provide insights into this complex process weakens its validity. The present work targets multitechnique spectroscopic investigations by Raman, infrared absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence on the effects of the herb Rotula Aquatica Lour (RAL) on the growth of synthetically prepared magnesium-based calculi. In addition to the standard magnesium phosphate-based sample, two other samples were prepared with incorporation of 1 and 2wt% RAL herbal extract. Both, Raman and infrared data show a newberyite structure for the crystals without and with inhibitor. The XPS measurements reveal an unexpected presence of Zn in the sample with RAL inhibitor, which, as suggested in the literature, may initiate rapid stone formation, and consequently, contribute to the inhibition process. Furthermore, the existence of metallic Zn can explain the reflectance of the incident light observed in the infrared transmission studies of the unground crystals. A significant increase in magnesium with addition of herbal extract is observed in the XPS data. Also, evidence for Mg-O binding between the inhibitor and the phosphate units of urinary calculus is found in XPS and Raman results. Similarity between our photoluminescence measurements and those of in vivo chlorophyll a corroborates to provide additional evidence of Mg-related inhibition.

Recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy. Part IV

“…Although herbal medicine is widely employed in inhibition of urinary calculi as an alternative and complementary curative method, the lack of detailed scientific studies that could provide insights into this complex process weakens its validity. Manciu et al 99 use Raman, IR, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence to determine the effects of the herb Rotula Aquatica Lour on the growth of synthetically prepared magnesium‐based calculi. Micro‐Raman spectroscopy was used by Taddei et al 100 to study aging of calcium silicate cements for endodontic use in simulated body fluids.…”

Gristhorpe Man: a Raman spectroscopic study of ‘mistletoe berries’ in a Bronze Age log coffin burial

“…[12] Vibrational spectroscopy has been used to determine the mineral composition of gallstones and kidney stones which comprise a rich mixture of inorganic salts and organic decomposition products of bile acids and bilirubin. [12 -14] The inorganic components of urinary calculi are mainly calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite) and calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite), with important minor constituents such as calcium phosphates and apatites, [15,16] including non-stoicheiometric hydroxyapatites of the general formulation Ca 10 [11] Bacterial infection of the host can result in the cleavage of urea in the urinary tract to release ammonia, and at a pH of about 7.5 this can produce ammonium phosphate and magnesium phosphates such as struvite, magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, MgNH 4 PO 4 .6H 2 O, the most common magnesium orthophosphate that is found in human lithiasis. Other reported magnesium phosphates are newberyite, MgHPO 4 ·3H 2 O, bobierrite, Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ·8H 2 O, and hannayite, Mg 3 (NH 4 ) 2 H 4 (PO 4 ) 4 ·8H 2 O.…”

Catalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular Hydroarylations of ω‐Aryloxy‐ and Arylamino‐Tethered α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

“…Herbal medicine, as well, has rarely been studied using modern spectroscopy. However, recent resurgence in plant antiurolithiatic activity reviews by scientists has given credence to the application of modern spectroscopic analysis,2, 6, 13–16 and has led us to this study, and results obtained by applying these techniques to the analysis of inhibited calculi growth resulting from laboratory synthesis of calcium oxalate crystals accompanied by the natural infusion of L. tridentata are reported here.…”