Spectroscopic study of inhibition of calcium oxalate calculi growth by Larrea tridentata

Abstract

Urolithiasis, the category of diseases associated with the formation of kidney stones, has many causes. However, only a few have been documented as aggravating calculi depositions and aggregations. This amply justifies continued work in developing effective and efficient inhibition and treatment techniques. The recent resurgence in reviews on plant antiurolithiatic activity has given credence to the application of modern spectroscopic analysis, and has led us to this study. Results obtained from Raman and infrared (IR) absorption analysis of inhibited calculi growth resulting from laboratory synthesis of calcium oxalate crystals accompanied by the natural infusion of Larrea tridentata are reported. A visible decrease in calcium oxalate crystal growth with increasing amounts of L. tridentata herbal infusion was observed in photomicrographs, as well as a color change from white-transparent for pure crystals to light orange-brown for crystals with inhibitor. Both Raman and IR absorption spectra reveal a monohydrate structure for the crystals grown alone, which transform to a dihydrate morphology with the addition of the L. tridentata inhibitor. Furthermore, the resulting data support the possibilities of the influences, in this complex process, of the nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and its derivative compounds from L. tridentata and the bonding of the magnesium of the inhibitor with the oxalate ion on the surface of the calculi crystals. This assumption corroborates well with the micrographs obtained under higher magnification, which show that the separated small crystallites consist of a darker brownish core, which we attribute to the dominance of growth inhibition by NDGA, surrounded by light transparent thin shells, which possibly correspond to passivation of the crystals by magnesium oxalate.

Prophylactic effects of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. extracts on experimental induction of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats

“…Calcium oxalate crystals were synthesized without or with OS extracts by employing a single diffusion gel technique as described in the literatures (Kulaksizoglu et al, 2007;Pinales et al, 2011). All experiments were performed at 37 1C, using a circulating water bath (Jiangnan Instrument CO., LTD., China).…”

Comparative spectroscopic analysis of nordihydroguaiaretic acid and related natural products to inhibition of calcium oxalate calculi

“…While NDGA is present in the whole plant, its primary distribution is on the surfaces of the leaves, the flowers, and the green stems [21]. Our previously reported spectroscopic results on such inhibitory processes by Larrea Tridentata herbal infusion confirmed significant decreases in crystal sizes [24]. Also, morphological differences, from a monohydrate versus a dehydrate, for pure calcium oxalate versus crystals grown with the inhibitor, respectively, were observed.…”

“…In this context it also worth mentioning that poorly informed use of traditional medicine, such as consumption of various natural medications, used mainly as dietary supplements, can also have detrimental side-effects [20][21][22]. Nevertheless, recent scientific studies have confirmed positive effects from using traditional herbal medicine for inhibiting these urinary disorders [17,[23][24][25][26].…”

“…Many different methods have been applied to urinary calculi characterization, with spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy still leading such analysis [24][25][26][27][28][29]. Despite the advantages brought by these methods of investigation of urinary calculi formation, difficulties with oxalate hydrate discrimination still exist [27].…”

“…using Raman and infrared absorption spectroscopies), the potential inhibitory effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on the formation of calcium oxalate crystals. NDGA, also known as masoprocol, is a chemical extract of the Larrea Tridentata bush, a plant that belongs to the Zygophyllacea family and is traditionally employed in the El Paso region as a natural treatment for kidney stones and bladder diseases [21,24,[33][34][35]. While NDGA is present in the whole plant, its primary distribution is on the surfaces of the leaves, the flowers, and the green stems [21].…”