Effect of herbal beverages of Foeniculum vulgare and Cymbopogon proximus on inhibition of calcium oxalate renal crystals formation in rats

This study was carried out to produce new herbal beverages from Foeniculum vulgare and Cymbopogon proximus using for inhibiting or preventing calcium oxalate crystals formation. The preliminary chemical composition and phytochemical tests of F. vulgare and C. proximus have been examined. Also, total polyphenols and total flavonoids contents were determined. Our results illustrated that F. vulgare and C. proximus contained average values of 9.5 and 13.25 mg GAE/g for total polyphenols, respectively, while the concentration of total flavonoids was 5.25 and 3.5 mg QE/g for F. vulgare and C. proximus, respectively. Furthermore, the efficiency of formulated beverages of investigated plants has been studied to elucidate their activities on oxalate induced renal calculi formation and the associated renal injury in rats. Formulated beverages D and E in ratios of 0.5:1.5% and 0.0:2.0% from F. vulgare and C. proximus, respectively, were the most effective treatments to inhibit kidney stone formation which afford 0.53 and 0.39 mg/24 h for oxalate concentration, respectively, while, calcium content was 1.47 and 1.20 mg/24 h for beverages D and E, respectively. Also, urinary marker enzymes such as ALP, ACP, and γ-GT were (0.92 and 0.86), (0.73 and 0.71), and (1.67 and 1.47) measured as (U/min/mg protein) for beverages D and E, respectively. In addition, blood urea and serum creatinine were (0.77 and 0.59) and (13.07 and 14.57) mg/dl for beverages D and E, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were estimated as the index of lipid peroxidation of kidney tissues. Finally, light microscopic observations of urinary crystals and histological sections of urolithic kidneys remained like normal rats for treated rats with beverages C, D, and E in ratios of 1.0:1.0%, 0.5:1.5%, and 0.0:2.0% from F. vulgare and C. proximus, respectively.