chlorophyll-a and Urinary-Calculi

We studied the growth of calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals (weddellite) in simulated urine and its transformation into the more stable monohydrate (whewellite). Sodium copper chlorophyllin in a concentration of 100 microgram per ml inhibited the growth of calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals in simulated urine. The size distribution parameters of the dihydrate crystals in the presence and absence of chlorophyllin suggest that soluble chlorophyllin could be of clinical significance in calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Topics: Calcium Oxalate; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyllides; Crystallization; In Vitro Techniques; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Urinary Calculi

Earlier reports from our laboratories described the inhibitory effect of Mg++ and pyrophosphate on the dissolution and growth of calcium oxalate. In this report, growth of Ca oxalate in presence of very low concentration of chlorophyllin was followed by the Coulter counter and a multichannel analyser. The effect of chlorophyllin concentration on crystal formation was studied at different levels of supersaturation. A concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml produced a remarkable retardation of the induction period and the growth rate. The findings obtained in this study are discussed in the light of the crystal poisoning theory. Comparison was made between chlorophyllin and other growth inhibitors.

Topics: Calcium; Chlorophyll; Copper; Crystallization; Oxalates; Sodium; Urinary Calculi