Effect of Herbal Extracts of Tetraclinis Articulata and Chamaerops Humilis on Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Vitro

Abstract

Background: A large number of people are suffering from problems due to urinary stones. Calcium oxalate monohydrate containing stones are the commonest ones. We studied the effect of herbal extracts of Tetraclinis articulata and Chamaerops humilis on these crystals in vitro. Material and Methods: Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals were grown by the classical model for the study of oxalate crystallisation. Crystallisation was studied and compared without and with inhibitor. Extracts of Tetraclinis articulata and Chamaerops humilis were studied as inhibitors. Results: The crystallisation of calcium oxalate monohydrate occurred in the absence of inhibitors and were calculated at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes, by polarised light microscopy. The same procedure was followed for the study of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystallisation in the presence of Tetraclinis articulata and Chamaerops humilis extracts. A series of concentrations of 25, 50, 75, 100% of these extracts were studied. The follow-up of the crystal size by polarised light microscopy was carried out at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes and the percentage inhibition was calculated. With the addition of Tetraclinis articulata, the best inhibitory concentrations 87.94% and 84.12% were encountered at the concentration of 100% and 50% respectively. For Chamaerops humilis the best inhibitory concentrations 94.86% and 93.07% were encountered at the concentration of 25% and 50% respectively after 30 minutes. Conclusion: Extracts of Tetraclinis articulata and Chamaerops humilis inhibit the growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals in vitro.