title: Inhibitory effect of an aqueous extract of Radix Paeoniae Alba on calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in a rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of an aqueous extract of Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) on the formation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones and the potential mechanism underlying the effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vitro assay was used to determine whether the RPA extract prevents the formation of CaOx or promotes CaOx dissolution. We also investigated the efficacy of the extract in vivo as a preventive and therapeutic agent for experimentally induced CaOx nephrolithiasis in rats. Various biochemical, molecular, and histological parameters were assessed in kidney tissue and urine at the end of the in vivo experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant dissolution of formed crystals (8.99 ± 1.43) and inhibition of crystal formation (2.55 ± 0.21) were observed in vitro after treatment with 64 mg/mL of the RPA extract compared with a control treatment (55.10 ± 4.98 and 54.57 ± 5.84, respectively) (p < .05). In preventive protocols, the RPA extract significantly reduced urinary and renal oxalate levels and increased urinary calcium and citrate levels compared to the control. In addition, the RPA preventive protocol significantly decreased osteopontin expression, renal crystallization, and pathological changes compared to the control. These changes were not observed in rats on the therapeutic protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RPA is a useful agent that prevents the formation of CaOx kidney stones.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Gansu Nephro-Urological Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Gansu Province for Urological Diseases, Lanzhou University Second Hospital , Gansu , China.
authors.forename: Xiaoran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatric Surgery , Lanzhou University Second Hospital , Gansu , China.
authors.forename: Wenyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: c First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University , Gansu Province , China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Gansu Nephro-Urological Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Gansu Province for Urological Diseases, Lanzhou University Second Hospital , Gansu , China.
authors.forename: Zhongjin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Gansu Nephro-Urological Clinical Center, Key Laboratory of Gansu Province for Urological Diseases, Lanzhou University Second Hospital , Gansu , China.
authors.forename: Junsheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine; D003460:Crystallization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism; D029596:Paeonia; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064804:Urological Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D064804:Urological Agents; D053495:Osteopontin; D002129:Calcium Oxalate
keywords: Radix Paeoniae Alba; Traditional Chinese medicine; calciumoxalate; extract; kidney stones