Evaluation of the Antilithiasic activity, Phospho-ammoniaco-magnésien of the aqueous extract of Fraxinus excelsior (L.)

Abstract

The formation of urinary stones is a serious clinical problem in the world, the struvite of which is one of the characteristic components of urolithiasis of infectious origin. The objective of this study is to evaluate the in vitro litholytic and inhibitory effects of the leaf aqueous extract of Fraxinus excelsior L plant on the crystallization of struvite. The plant is commonly used in traditional Algerian medicine.A characterization method of Fraxinus excelsior L plant was first performed to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid compounds of Fraxinus excelsior L leaf aqueous extract. Struvite crystals prepared with two different processes had subsequently undergone an inhibition assay by supplementing Aqueous Extract with varying concentrations. In the first process, struvite was biologically crystallized in a synthetic urine in the presence of Proteus mirabilis during 24 hours of incubation period. This was followed by the addition of Aqueous Extract, the effect of which was evaluated after 1-hour. In the second process, struvite crystals were chemically synthesized for 30 minutes in the presence of aqueous extract. These two processes allow to assess, respectively, the litholytic effect of aqueous extract on the previously formed struvite crystals and the inhibitory effect of the crystallization of struvite. These various tests of crystallization and inhibition of struvite crystals were conducted by Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The results reveal that this Aqueous Extract contains an estimated total phenolic content of 60.92 ± 0.94 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of extract and a total flavonoid content of 19.32 ± 0.75 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g of extract. The in vitro struvite crystals dissolution testing revealed a significant litholytic effect. Also, the struvite crystallization inhibition testing showed that it exerted a significant inhibitory effect observed with polarized light.The effect of this extract is evident against struvite crystals with a conclusive litholytic and inhibitory potential. The present results open up significant preventive management prospects for this type of lithiasis.