Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum L. leaves on ethylene glycol-induced kidney calculi in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum (H. perforatum) leaves on the kidney calculi in rats.


METHODS
Fifty-two Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Groups 2, 3, and 4 received ethylene glycol (EG) 1% + ammonium chloride (0.5%)-added drinking water as a stone inducer. The H. Perforatum solution was fed at the same time of EG application and was repeated once for two days until the end of the experimental period. Group 1 (control; n = 10) was provided free access to food and normal drinking water. Group 2 (EG; n = 12) received EG-ammonium chloride-added drinking water and was fed with normal chow. Groups 3 and 4 (n = 15), as EG-treatment groups, received H. Perforatum in low (300 mg/kg) and high (500 mg/kg) doses, respectively. After 28 days, the kidneys were removed and prepared for histologic evaluation of calcium oxalate deposits.


RESULTS
Urine level of free calcium in groups EG and EG + H. perforatum (300 mg/kg) and phosphorous in EG + H. perforatum (500 mg/kg) significantly decreased compared to controls (P < .01; P < .05; and P < .05, respectively). Treatment of the rats with high dose of H. Perforatum (500 mg/kg) markedly reduced decrementing effect of EG on serum level of free calcium (P < .05). Histological experiments showed that chronic feeding of H. perforatum (300 and 500 mg/kg, orally) could significantly reduce the size and number of calcium oxalate deposits in EG group.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic treatment of rats with hydroalcoholic extract of H. perforatum reduced the size and number of calcium oxalate deposits in EG-induced calculi.
Department of Physiology, Medicinal Plant, School of Medicine, Shahed University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohsen
M
Khalili
Mohammad Reza
MR
Jalali
Mohammad
M
Mirzaei-Azandaryani
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000378:metabolism; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D020902:Hypericum; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D010936:Plant Extracts; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D010758:Phosphorus; D019855:Ethylene Glycol; D002118:Calcium