Effect of Costus Igneus extract on growth of urinary calculi (Brushite, Whewellite and Struvite) crystals

Abstract

Many people suffer from problems resulting from urinary stones. Urinary stones have been found to contain calcium phosphate, calcium oxalate, uric acid and magnesium ammonium phosphate with apatite and struvites predominating. Calcium-containing stones are the most common variety of urinary stone, and it comprise about 75% of all urinary calculi, which are found in the form of pure calcium oxalate (50%), calcium phosphate (5%) or a mixture of both (45%). Urinary stones are characterized by its high recurrence rate, if patients are not treated appropriately. Among the treatments used are surgical removal, percutaneous techniques based on laproscopic and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) and drug treatment. Besides, these treatments cause undesirable side effects such as hemorrhage, hypertension, tubular necrosis and subsequent fibrosis of the kidney leading to cell injury and recurrence of renal stone formation. Patients affected with kidney-stone forming are prone to its recurrence even after its surgical removal. From the above facts it is clear that there is a need to the study herbal plants for the treatment of urinary stones because of their efficacy, safety, lesser side effects and better compatibility with human body. Herbals presently available for the treatment of kidney stones are Tribulus terrestris, Tamarindus indica, Crataeva nurvala, Costus igneus and Grewia titiaefoliae. The present study is to investigate the composition and the type of kidney stones were surgically removed from patients in our population by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.