Antiurolithiatic Activity of Tribulus Terrestris Fruit Extract in A Calcium Oxalate Crystallization Model

Abstract

Background: A botanical standard that is associated with an assay can be used to develop adjunctive strategies of recurrent calcium oxalate stone disease. Objective: To evaluate hydroalcoholic Tribulus terrestris fruit extract in comparison with vehicle control and potassium citrate reference using a in-vitro crystallization experiment. Methods: The preliminary protocol had 30 experimental units/participants with cell-free calcium oxalate nucleation, growth and aggregation tests. Experiment on crystallization of 60-minutes was done through the administration or testing of the intervention. The main finding was the inhibition of crystal aggregation, and the further examination of the crystal turntivity of nucleation, average crystal size, percentage of calcium oxalate monohydrate, and epithelial cell viability. Standardized laboratory, clinical, or food-analysis procedures were applied, and between-condition effects were evaluated with two-sided tests at α=0.05. Results: At 200 µg/mL, Tribulus terrestris extract inhibited calcium oxalate aggregation by 73 ± 7% and reduced mean crystal size from 34 ± 4 µm to 15 ± 2 µm (p<0.001). The concentrated concentration changed the crystal morphology to calcium oxalate monohydrate and maintained the viability of tubular epithelial cells at 89 ± 4% even when exposed to oxalate.
There was internal consistency of direction and magnitude of the dummy findings between primary and secondary endpoints and tolerability or assay-quality criteria were reasonable. Conclusion: The example data indicate that hydroalcoholic Tribulus terrestris fruit extract may generate a significant change in crystal aggregation inhibition by complexing crystal-formative ions, adsorbing to crystal surfaces, and protecting against tubular epithelial cell damage. These results are only meant as a full manuscript-development sample and must be substituted with ethically obtained, independently confirmed observations prior to scientific submission. Keywords: Tribulus terrestris; calcium oxalate; urolithiasis; crystallization; phytotherapy.