Abstract

In Morocco, Cynodon dactylon L. and Erica multiflora L. are commonly used as phytotherapeutic agents in folk medicine for the treatment of urolithiasis. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of their aqueous extracts on calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization in vitro. Crystallization was induced in human urine samples by adding sodium oxalate in the absence or presence of the extracts at different concentrations. The nature and the frequency of crystals were analyzed by plain and polarized light microscopy. The nucleation and aggregation of CaOx crystals were measured separately using turbidimetric spectrophotometry methods. Induction time and turbidity slope were respectively compared in the presence of the extract with that of the control. Both plant extracts promoted the formation of CaOx dihydrate rather than monohydrate crystals in urine in a dose manner. In nucleation assay, the induction time decreased in the presence of both plants extracts when compared with that of control. In aggregation assay, Cynodon dactylon inhibited efficiently CaOx aggregation. In contrary, we did not observe an important inhibitory effect with Erica multiflora extract. These data indicate that extract obtained from Cynodon dactylon may contain substances that promote the formation of small CaOx dihydrate crystals and inhibited aggregation. Cynodon dactylon aqueous extract might be beneficial for the prevention of kidney stones. However, the effect of Erica multiflora extract need to be further studied in order to find a possible action on other lithiasis types.