title: Antinephrolithiatic and antioxidative efficacy of Dolichos biflorus seeds in a lithiasic rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dolichos biflorus sensu auct non L. (Fabaceae) is widely used for the treatment of kidney stones, leucorrhoea, urinary disorders, and menstrual troubles, and is known for its antioxidant activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the preventive effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Dolichos biflorus seeds (DBE) in ethylene glycol induced nephrolithiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro antioxidative capacity of DBE was estimated in terms of reducing power, superoxide radical, 2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, and nitric oxide scavenging activity. A validated HPLC method was used for standardization using quercetin as a marker. Adult female Wistar rats were administered with DBE (150 and 300 mg/kg body weight/day) along with ethylene glycol (0.75%, v/v) for 28 d. The various biochemical parameters were measured in urine, serum, and kidney followed by histochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ethylene glycol caused a significant increase in calcium, oxalate, phosphate, and total protein in urine as well as in kidney whereas decrease in calcium, sodium, and magnesium in serum was observed (p < 0.001). Ethylene glycol also caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and concurrent decrease in activities of antioxidant enzymes in kidney (p < 0.001). However, the seed extract of D. biflorus caused significant restoration of all these parameters (p < 0.001). Histopathological and histochemical studies also showed the reduced calcifications in kidney of seed extract treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that seeds of D. biflorus have significant prophylactic effect in preventing the nephrolithiasis, which might be due to the antioxidant activity of the active compounds of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University , Ahmedabad, Gujarat , India.
authors.forename: Sarmistha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Ramtej J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D031294:Dolichos / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Calcium oxalate; ethylene glycol; oxidative stress