tribulus and Kidney-Calculi

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Body Weight; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Kidney Calculi; Male; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Plant Extracts; Rats; Tribulus; Urolithiasis

Adhesion of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals to kidney cells is a key event in kidney stones associated with marked hyperoxaluria. As the propensity of stone recurrence and persistent side effects are not altered by surgical techniques available, phytotherapeutic agents could be useful as an adjuvant therapy. The present study is aimed at examining the antilithiatic potency of the protein biomolecules of Tribulus terrestris, a plant which is a common constituent of herbal marketed preparations to treat urolithiasis. Various biochemical methods with mass spectrometry were used to purify and characterize the purified protein. The protective potency of the protein was tested on the oxalate induced injury on renal epithelial cell lines (NRK 52E). An antilithiatic protein having molecular weight of ~ 60kDa was purified. This purified protein showed similarities with Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 7 (CCD7) of Arabidopsis thaliana after matching peptide mass fingerprints in MASCOT search engine. An EF hand domain was identified in CCD7 by SCAN PROSITE. Presence of an EF hand domain, a characteristic feature of calcium binding proteins and a role in the synthesis of retinol which is transported by retinol binding protein, a protein found in kidney stone matrix; of CCD7 support the role of TTP as an antilithiatic protein. The protective potency of TTP on NRK 52E was quite comparable to the aqueous extract of cystone. Our findings suggest that this purified protein biomolecule from Tribulus terrestris could open new vista in medical management of urolithiasis.

Topics: Animals; Arabidopsis Proteins; Calcium Oxalate; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Cell Line; Dioxygenases; EF Hand Motifs; Epithelial Cells; Kidney; Kidney Calculi; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Proteins; Rats; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Tribulus; Urolithiasis

To explore the supportive evidence for the use of Ayurvedic medicine in the management of existing and recurrent nephrolithiasis.. Nine Ayurvedic medicines commonly utilized in the management of nephrolithiasis were identified by discussions with Ayurvedic practitioners in India. Mechanistic and clinical studies evaluating the use of these agents were identified using the Medline database and bibliographies suggested by Ayurvedic practitioners. The articles were then critically reviewed and summarized.. Four in vitro mechanistic studies, eight animal studies, and seven human trials were identified. Phyllanthus niruri has undergone mechanistic in vitro, animal, and clinical trials that support its impact on calcium oxalate crystallization. Preliminary clinical trials have evaluated the role of Dolichos biflorus and Orthosiphon grandiflorus in the prevention of urolithiasis and fish stone as a method of stone expulsion, yet the treatment effect and mechanism of action remains to be elucidated.. Ayurvedic medicine holds promise as a complementary approach to the management and prevention of nephrolithiasis. The best studied compound is P. niruri. Further controlled randomized clinical trials are justified to support or refute the potential benefits demonstrated in these initial studies.

Topics: Animals; Arctostaphylos; Capparaceae; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclea; Dolichos; Humans; Kidney Calculi; Medicine, Ayurvedic; Phyllanthus; Plant Extracts; Tribulus