Abstract
Background: Nasturtium officinale is a traditional herb that is used for diuresis.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of hydrophilic extract of
Nasturtium officinale on ethylene glycol-induced renal stone in male Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: In this study 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided in six groups
and studied during 30 days. Two groups of negative and healthy control received 1%
ethylene glycol in water respectively. Low and high dose preventive groups, in addition
to 1% ethylene glycol, daily gavaged with 750 mg/kg and 1.5 g/kg of extract respectively.
All rats were hold in metabolic cages individually in days 0, 15 and 30 and 24-hour urine
samples were collected and checked for urinary parameters of stone formation. In 30th
day, rats were anesthetized with ether, and after taking serum sample from them, were
sacrificed and their kidneys were sent for pathological evaluation and for presence and
volume of calcium oxalate crystals.
Results: Percentage of calcium oxalate crystals in negative control groups (75%), preventive
groups with low dose (28.6%) and high dose (57.1%) in comparison to healthy control
group (12.5%) increased (P < 0.05). In 30th day urinary oxalate concentration in preventive
and negative control groups were more than healthy control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: This research showed that the Nasturtium officinale extract has no significant
effects in urinary and chemical parameters efficient in calcium oxalate stone crystals in rat
but its extract in low dose has some preventive effect on renal stone formation.