Int Urol Nephrol. 2001 ; 33(4): 605-8.

Inhibition of oxalate nephrolithiasis with Ammi visnaga (AI-Khillah).

Khan ZA, Assiri AM, Al-Afghani HM, Maghrabi TM.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

We investigated the effect of Ammi visnaga seeds on experimentally - induced kidney stones - in male Wistar albino rats. Oxalate nephrolithiasis was experimentally induced by 3% glycolic acid (added in their diet) given for the period of four weeks. A highly significant amount of deposits were found in the kidneys, which were analyzed quantitatively. These deposits were mainly of calcium oxalate in composition. Daily oral (gavage) treatment with Ammi visnaga (500 mg/kg) highly reduced the incidence of nephrolithiasis (calcium oxalate deposition in the kidneys). Ammi visnaga seeds extract showed highly potent diuretic activity. The reduction in body weight, increase in kidneys weight, increase in water intake, decrease in urine output found in glycolic acid control group were prevented to various extent on Ammi visnaga treatment; and the values became to insignificant difference with control group. The changes in weights of liver, heart and lungs of the three groups were insignificant. Uraemia and hyperbilirubinaemia observed in glycolic acid control group were found to be ameliorated by Ammi visnaga seed extract treatment.