Preventive effects of the aqueous extract of Cichorium intybus L. flower on ethylene glycol-induced renal calculi in rats

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran

2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

4 Molecular Genetic Ph.D, Department of Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Urolithiasis remains a global problem. Despite the availability of numerous methods, no definite therapeutic agent has been yet introduced for the prevention or treatment of kidney stones. In this study, we evaluated the possible preventive effects of aqueous extract of Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) flowers on ethylene glycol-induced renal calculi in rats.
Materials and Methods: A total of 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups and were treated for 30 days. Group A received drinking tap water, while groups B, C, and D were administered with 1% ethylene glycol for induction of calcium oxalate stone formation. Rats in groups C and D received intraperitoneal injections of the aqueous extract of chicory flowers (50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively) since the first day of the experiment. The urine volume, urine pH, and urinary levels of oxalate, citrate, calcium, uric acid, and creatinine as well as serum levels of calcium, uric acid, and creatinine were measured. After 30 days, the rats' kidneys were removed and prepared for histological evaluation of calcium oxalate deposits.  One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey's test, was performed, using SPSS version 20.
Results: The number of calcium oxalate crystals was significantly higher in group B (ethylene glycol-only treated animals), compared to group A (control), group C (50 mg/kg of aqueous extract), and group D (200 mg/kg of aqueous extract) (p<0.05). On day 30, the urine level of citrate, oxalate (p>0.05), and creatinine (p<0.05), as well as urine pH (p<0.05) decreased in groups C and D, compared to group B. Also, urine calcium level, urine uric acid (p>0.05), and urine volume (p<0.05) were higher in group D, compared to group B. In addition, the serum level of calcium, creatinine (p<0.05), and uric acid (p<0.001) decreased in groups C and D.
Conclusion: The aqueous extract of chicory flower (50 mg/kg) could reduce the number of calcium oxalate deposits in the urine and reduce the level of serum parameters.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Al-Snafi AE. 2016. Medical importance of Cichorium intybus – A review. IOSR J Pharmacy, 6: 41-56. 
Aslan Z, Aksoy L. 2015. Anti-inflammatory effects of royal jelly on ethylene glycolinduced renal inflammation in rats.Res. J Pharm Sci, 2: 1-4.
De Kraker J-W, Franssen MCR, Dalm MCF, de Groot A, Bouwmeester  HJ. 2001. Biosynthesis of germacrene a carboxylic acid in chicory roots. Demonstration of a cytochrome P450 (+)-germacrene a hydroxylase and NADP+-dependent sesquiterpenoid dehydrogenase (s) involved in sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis. J Plant Physiol, 125: 1930-1940.
El- Dakhakhny M, Madi N. J, Ammon H. P. 2002.  Nigella sativa oil, nigellone and derivedthymoquinone inhibit synthesis of 5-Lipoxygenase products in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from rats. J ethnopharmacol, 81: 161-164.
Eslami H. 2015. Investigation the effects of used solvent components proportions for extraction the antimicrobial compounds of Cichorium intybus L. on their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Int J Biosci , 6: 73-81.
Fatemi Tabatabaei SR, Rashno M, Ghaderi Sh, Askaripour M. 2016. The Aqueous Extract of Portulaca Oleracea Ameliorates Neurobehavioral Dysfunction and Hyperglycemia Related to Streptozotocin-Diabetes Induced in Ovariectomized Rats. Iran J Pharm Res, 15: 561-571.
Gupta M, Bhayana S, Sikka SK. 2011. Role of urinary inhibitors and promoters in calcium oxalate crystallisation. Int J Research in Pharmacy and Chemistry, 1: 793-798.
Hadjzadeh MAR, Khoei R, Hadjzadeh Z, Parizady M. 2007. Ethanolic extract of nigella sativa L seeds on ethylene glycol-induced kidney calculi in rats. J Urol, 4: 86-90.
Jamshidzadeh A, Khoshnood MJ, Dehghani Z, Niknahad H. 2006. Hepatoprotective activity of Cichorium intybus L. leaves extract against carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity. Iran J Pharm Res, 1:41-46.
Katiyar P, Kumar A, Mishra AK, Dixit RK, Kumar A, Kumar R, Gupta AK. 2015. Kasni (Cichorium intybus L.) A propitious traditional medicinal herb. Int J Pharmacogn, 8:368-380.
Khajavi Rad A, Hadjzadeh MA, Rajaei Z, Mohammadian N, Valiollahi S, Sonei M. 2011. The Beneficial effect of Cynodon Dactylon fractions on ethylene glycol-induced kidney calculi in rats. J Urol, 8: 179-184.
Khan S. R, Thamilselvan S. 2000, Nephrolithiasis: a consequence of renal epithelial cell exposure to oxalate and calcium oxalate crystals. J Mol Urol, 4: 305-312.
Khksari M, Rezvani ME, Salado MA, Soleimani A. 2000. The effect of topically applied water extract of Rhazya stricta on cutaneous wound healing in rats.J Koomesh, 1: 1-10.
Mehmood  N, Zubair M, Rowen K, Rasool N, Shahid M, Ahmad VU. 2012. Antioxidant, antimicrobial and phytochemical analysis of Cichorium intybus seeds extract and various organic fractions. Iran J Pharm Res, 11: 1145-1151.
Mehrabi S, Askarpou E,Mehrabi F, Jannesar R. 2016. Effects of hydrophilic extract of Nasturtium officinale on prevention of ethylene glycol induced renal stone in male Wistar rats. J Nephropathol, 4: 123-127.
Nandagopal S, Ranjitha Kumari BD.2007. Phytochemical and Antibacterial Studies of Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) - A Multipurpose Medicinal Plant.  A J Biol Res, 1: 17-21.
Pomara C, Fiore C, D'Errico S, Riezzo I, Fineschi V. 2008.  A confocal laser scanning microscope study in a fatal case. Clin Toxicol (Phila), 46: 322-324.
Rampoldi L, Scolari F, Amoroso A, Ghiggeri G, Devuyst O. 2011. The rediscovery of uromodulin (Tamm–Horsfall protein): from tubulointerstitial nephropathy to chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int, 80: 338-347.
R.Hoyer J, W.Seiler M. 1979. Pathophysiology of Tamm-Horsfall protein. Kidney Int, 16: 279-289.
Rashed K, Medda R, Spano D, Pintus F. 2016. Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase potentials and phytochemical composition of four egyptian plants. Int Food Res J, 23: 203-210.
Shad MA, Nawaz H, Rehman T, Ikram N. 2013. Determination of some biochemicals, phytochemicals and antioxidant properties of different parts of Cichorium intybus L.: A comparative study. J Anim Plant Sci, 23: 1060-1066.
Shafaeifar A, Mehrabi S, Malekzadeh J, Jannesar R, Sadeghi H, Vahdani R, Mohammadi R. 2011. Effect of Hydrophilic Extract of Alhagi Maurorum on Ethylene Glycol-Induced Renal Stone in Male Wistar Rats.J Armaghane danesh, 17: 129-138.
Shaikh T, Mujum A, Wasimuzzama K, Rub RA. 2010. An overview on phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Cichorium intybus Linn. Br J Pharmacol, 2: 298-307.
Sridharan B, Micheal ST, Ramachandran A, Ganesh  RN, Viswanathan P. 2015. Citrus bioflavonoids ameliorate hyperoxaluria induced renal injury and calcium oxalate crystal deposition in Wistar rats. Adv Pharm Bull, 5:1-9.
Street RA, Sidana J, Prinsloo G. 2013. Cichorium intybus: traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013:1-13.
Zaman R, Noorul Basar S. 2013. A review article of Beekhe Kasni (Cichorium intybus) its traditional uses and pharmacological actions. Int Braz J Urol, 41: 1008-1013.
 
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
Volume 8, Issue 2
March and April 2018
Pages 170-178

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics