Anti-nephrolithiatic efficacy of Teucrium polium aerial parts extract in a lithiasic rat model

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-nephrolithiatic potential of the aqueous extract of Teucrium polium in male Wistar rats. The experiment was carried out in male rats divided into 4 groups, each of which contain 6 animals. Group I (normal control) received distilled water for 40 days. Group II(nephrolithiatic control) to IV(treatment groups)animals received 1% v/v ethylene glycol (EG) in distilled water for 20 days. Group III (standard group) received Cystone® (750 mg/kg) from 20th day - 40th day. Group IV received (200mg/kg) from 20th to 40th day. Urinary volume, pH, and biochemical parameters such as calcium, uric acid, urea, phosphorus and oxalate; and serum calcium, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), uric acid, phosphorus, creatinine and magnesium were assessed. In addition, histopathological changes in kidney were carried out. Supplementation with aqueous extract of T. polium significantly increased urine volume (P˂0.01) and urine pH (P˂0.05). Aqueous extract of T. polium significantly reduced the elevated urinary and serum levels of uric acid (P˂0.001). Moreover, it significantly lowered the urinary, serum levels of phosphorus(P˂0.05) and significantly improved serum magnesium level(P˂0.05). It is noteworthy to mention that T. polium revealed no effect on the other biochemical parameters. We can conclude that T. polium aqueous extract could decrease the risk of formation of CaOx stones by affecting many biochemical parameters other than oxalate.