EFFECT OF CYSTONE, A HERBAL FORMULATION, ON GLYCOLIC ACID-INDUCED UROLITHIASIS IN RATS

The effect of cystone, a herbal formulation, was studied on experiment ally induced urolithiasis in rats. Oxalate urolithiasis was produced b y the addition of 3% glycolic acid to the diet for a period of 42 days . Glycolic acid treatment resulted in a significant increase in the le vels of calcium and oxalate in the kidney as well as in the total kidn ey weight. Also, the urinary levels of calcium, oxalate and inorganic phosphorus were increased. Cystone treatment at 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg b.wt. p.o. for 42 days revealed a dose-related effect in the reductio n of lithogenic substances, following glycolic acid induced urolithias is. Simultaneous oral treatment with cystone at a dose of 500 and 750 mg/kg for 42 days, significantly reversed the glycolic acid-induced ur olithiasis, presumably by preventing the urinary supersaturation of li thogenic substances, especially of oxalate and calcium. The reduction of urinary and kidney oxalate levels by cystone may be due to its inhi bitory action on oxalate synthesizing liver enzyme glycolate oxidase. These observations indicate that cystone can play an important role in the prevention of disorders associated with kidney stone formation. ( C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.