title: Oxalate contents of commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the total and soluble oxalate contents of commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two Chinese medicinal herbs were extracted in both acid and water prior to determination of total and soluble oxalate, respectively. Oxalate was assayed in herbal extracts using a well-established enzymatic procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 22 medicinal herbs, there was significant variation in oxalate content; Houttuynia cordata contained the highest amount of soluble oxalate (2146 mg/100 g) and Selaginella doederleinii contained the lowest amount (71 mg/ 100 g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that different Chinese medicinal herbs, even from the same family, contain significantly different amounts of oxalate. In susceptible individuals, the use of medicinal herbs with the highest oxalate contents could increase risk of kidney stone formation.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liebman
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010070:Oxalates / Q000032:analysis*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010070:Oxalates