An extract of Ammi visnaga L. prevents cell damage caused by oxalate

Urinary stones affect 10–12% of the population in industrialized countries. Epidemiological data collected during several decades showed that the majority of stones, up to 80%, are composed mainly of calcium oxalate (CaOx) [1]. Egyptians have been traditionally using extracts prepared from the seeds of Ammi visnaga L. (syn. Khella, Apiaceae) as a remedy to treat kidney stones [2]. It was the aim of our study to evaluate the effect of a Khella extract on CaOx crystallization in vitro using cell culture experiments. The extract was phytochemically characterized by means of HPLC. The quantitative amount of the marker compounds khellin and visnagin was 2.88 and 1.72mg/100mg Khella extract, respectively. LLC-PK1 and MDCK cell lines were exposed to 300µM oxalate (Ox) or 133µg/cm² CaOx in presence or absence of 10, 50, 100 or 200µg/ml Khella extract. To evaluate the cell damage, cell viability was assessed by determining the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Khella extract (100µg/ml) significantly decreased LDH release from LLC-PK1 (Ox control: 8.46±0.76%, Ox + 100µg/ml Khella: 5.41±0.94%, P<0.001) as well as MDCK cells (Ox control: 30.9±6.58%, Ox + 100µg/ml Khella: 17.5±2.50%, P<0.001), which indicates a prevention of cell damage. Results presented here demonstrate that exposure of renal epithelial cells to Ox is associated with a significant release of LDH. Our research provides an experimental basis for examining the role of Khella extract in kidney stone disease.

Acknowledgement: Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, USA

Reference: 1. Sierakowski, R. et al. (1978) Invest Urol 15:438–441. 2. Ahsan, S.K. et al. (1989)J Ethnopharmacol 26:249–254.