Apple Juice Prevents Ethylene Glycol-Induced Urolithiasis in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Gonzales, Precious Marie J., Membreve, Daile Meek Salvador, M.Sc.

Department of Biology, Bicol University, Rizal Street, 4500, Legazpi City, Philippines.

Abstract: In this study the antiurolithiatic effect of the commercialized apple juice, Ceres™ and fresh apple juice in ethylene glycol-induced Wistar rats were tested. The calcium oxalate formation, body weight, kidney weight index, and biomarkers from blood and urine related to kidney function were evaluated. Twenty-one (21) male albino Wistar rats were divided into seven groups with three replicates each. Group I was not induced with ethylene glycol and untreated, while groups II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII were induced with ethylene glycol (0.75%) for 28 days. Group II was the negative control, it was untreated. Groups III and IV were the preventive group treated for 28 days with 200 μl of commercialized and fresh apple juice respectively. The group V and VI (curative group) was treated for 14 days with 200 μl of commercialized and fresh apple juice respectively. Group VII, treated with Rowatinex for 14 days. The results showed that the ethylene glycol successfully induced calcium oxalate crystals which cause urolithiasis. Both apple juice of the preventive group inhibits the formation of the calcium oxalate crystals in the histological section of the rat’s kidney. It decreases the formation of calcium oxalate stones in the curative group. However, the apple juice has no effect in the body and kidney weight, BUN, creatinine, urine specific gravity and urine pH level. Data suggest that apple juice has no influence in restoring kidney function, however it show that it could prevent calcium oxalate stone formation, suggesting its antiurolithiatic potential.

Keywords: Apple, Urolithiasis, Ethylene glycol, Calcium oxalate crystals, Antiurolithiatic.

Pages: 59 – 71 | Full PDF Paper