Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Urolithiasis

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2024) | Viewed by 3478

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Guest Editor
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Núcleo de Investigações Químico-Farmacêuticas (NIQFAR), Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI), Campus Itajaí, Rua Uruguai 458, Itajaí 88302-901, SC, Brazil
Interests: natural products; bioactive compounds; kidney disease; hypertension; cardiovascular disease
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Kidney stones, also called nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, are one of the most prevalent urological disorders, occasioned by the formation and sporadic movement of crystal agglomerates in the urinary tract. Their movement through the urinary tract can be incredibly painful, leading to medical emergencies. Pharmacological strategies aiming to relieve painful discomfort are primarily based on pain relievers, since there are no effective drugs that act on the dissolution of clusters. Surgical procedures may be required to remove or separate larger stones. In addition, urolithiasis is documented as a risk factor for other systemic ailments, such as cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. Considering this, there is an urgent demand for innovative treatments, with those obtained from natural products emphasized, owing to their inestimable supplies of metabolites with substantial therapeutic capacity.

This Special Issue will summarize the advantages of the natural products-based therapies presently investigated for urolithiasis and introduce potential nominees for innovative therapeutic development.

Dr. Priscila de Souza
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • plant extracts
  • isolated compounds from medicinal plants
  • kidney stone
  • nephrolithiasis
  • urinary tract
  • hypertension
  • diabetes
  • pain relievers

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 4807 KiB  
Article
Sulfated Laminarin Polysaccharides Reduce the Adhesion of Nano-COM Crystals to Renal Epithelial Cells by Inhibiting Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
by Tian-Qu He, Zhi Wang, Chuang-Ye Li, Yao-Wang Zhao, Xin-Yi Tong, Jing-Hong Liu and Jian-Ming Ouyang
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060805 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1409
Abstract
Purpose: Adhesion between calcium oxalate crystals and renal tubular epithelial cells is a vital cause of renal stone formation; however, the drugs that inhibit crystal adhesion and the mechanism of inhibition have yet to be explored. Methods: The cell injury model was constructed [...] Read more.
Purpose: Adhesion between calcium oxalate crystals and renal tubular epithelial cells is a vital cause of renal stone formation; however, the drugs that inhibit crystal adhesion and the mechanism of inhibition have yet to be explored. Methods: The cell injury model was constructed using nano-COM crystals, and changes in oxidative stress levels, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress levels, downstream p38 MAPK protein expression, apoptosis, adhesion protein osteopontin expression, and cell–crystal adhesion were examined in the presence of Laminarin polysaccharide (DLP) and sulfated DLP (SDLP) under protected and unprotected conditions. Results: Both DLP and SDLP inhibited nano-COM damage to human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cell (HK-2), increased cell viability, decreased ROS levels, reduced the opening of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore, markedly reduced ER Ca2+ ion concentration and adhesion molecule OPN expression, down-regulated the expression of ER stress signature proteins including CHOP, Caspase 12, and p38 MAPK, and decreased the apoptosis rate of cells. SDLP has a better protective effect on cells than DLP. Conclusions: SDLP protects HK-2 cells from nano-COM crystal-induced apoptosis by reducing oxidative and ER stress levels and their downstream factors, thereby reducing crystal–cell adhesion interactions and the risks of kidney stone formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Urolithiasis)
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16 pages, 9856 KiB  
Article
Protective Role of Rosmarinic Acid in Experimental Urolithiasis: Understanding Its Impact on Renal Parameters
by Anelise Felício Macarini, Luísa Nathalia Bolda Mariano, Mariana Zanovello, Rita de Cássia Vilhena da Silva, Rogério Corrêa and Priscila de Souza
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060702 - 29 May 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1248
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the ability of rosmarinic acid (RA) to prevent kidney stone formation in an ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride (EG/AC) model. There was an increase in diuresis in the normotensive (NTRs) and hypertensive rats (SHRs) treated with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess the ability of rosmarinic acid (RA) to prevent kidney stone formation in an ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride (EG/AC) model. There was an increase in diuresis in the normotensive (NTRs) and hypertensive rats (SHRs) treated with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and exposed to EG/AC, while RA restored urine volume in NTRs. The EG/AC groups exhibited lower urine pH and electrolyte imbalance; these parameters were not affected by any of the treatments. Both HCTZ+EG/AC and RA+EG/AC reduced calcium oxalate crystal formation in NTR and SHR urine. Kidney tissue analysis revealed alterations in oxidative stress and inflammation parameters in all EG/AC-receiving groups, with RA enhancing antioxidant defenses in SHRs. Additionally, crystals were found in the kidney histology of all EG/AC-exposed groups, with reduced Bowman’s capsule areas in NTRs and SHRs. The NTR VEH+EG/AC group showed intense renal damage, while the others maintained their structures, where treatments with HCTZ and RA were fundamental for kidney protection in the NTRs. Docking analysis showed that RA exhibited good binding affinity with matrix metalloproteinase-9, phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase, and human glycolate oxidase enzymes. The data disclosed herein underscore the importance of further research to understand the underlying mechanisms better and validate the potential of RA for clinical use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Urolithiasis)
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