Nephroprotective Effect of Functional Beverage of Dolichous Biflorus Seeds on Ethylene Glycol Induced Urolithiasis: A Mechanistic Approach

Calcium oxalate is the most common type of urolithiasis and is suggested due to membrane oxalate transporters dysfunction. This study has used Dolichos biflorus seeds as a functional beverage to explore its bioactive substances’ role on membrane transporters for managing urolithiasis. Urolithiasis model of ethylene glycol induced calcium oxalate crystals in albino Wistar rats was used in this study. Treatment of functional beverage of Dolichos biflorus seeds restored normal blood and urinary oxalate and citrate level and showed anti-urolithiasis activity. Probenecid, a membrane organic anion transporter (Slc26) inhibitor, treatment has abolished anti-urolithiasis activity of functional beverage and suggested Dolichos biflorus produce effect through the restoration of membrane oxalate transporters activity. An oxalate-less diet did not significantly reduce urinary, and plasma oxalate in probenecid treated animals and suggested that dietary oxalate is not primarily involved in calcium oxalate urolithiasis and conditions like hyperoxalemia and hyperoxaluria. Therefore, our findings suggested that endogenous oxalate in conjunction with idiopathic or chronic reduced activity or defective Slc26 transporters due to aging results in calcium oxalate kidney stones. The functional beverage of Dolichos biflorus seeds exhibited anti-urolithiasis activity through improving the activity of Slc26 transporters.