The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of calcium oxalate urolithiasis

A.A. Kamalov, D.A. Okhobotov, A.N. Nizov, A.A. Strigunov, E.V. Afanas’evskaya

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Dramatic technological progress has provided urologists with a myriad of surgical techniques for urolithiasis. Urinary stone removal is, however, symptomatic treatment since it does not address the immediate cause of stone formation. Free radical stress is one of the pathogenic factors of calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species resulting from oxidative stress leads to renal tubule damage and over-secretion of calcium ions in Henle’s loop.

Aim: to assess the effect of biologically active ingredient complex in terms of reducing free radical load in the area of Randall’s plaque formation and its potential use for metaphylaxis of urolithiasis.

Patients and Methods: antioxidant activity of bioactive substance complex containing natural plant components (i.e., anthraquinones, resveratrol, glycyrrhizinic acid, salidrosides, and icariin — Rubia tinctorum root extract, Orthosiphon is staminei leaf extract, Epimedium extract, Rhodíola rósea root extract, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract) was measured by chemiluminescence using Lum-1200 chemiluminometer (DISoft, Russian Federation). Antioxidant activity of bioactive substance complex was evaluated by resveratrol activity. The levels of potential urolithiasis markers (i.e., bikunin and osteopontin) were measured several times at various steps. Stone formation activity was measured by lithos-test.

Results: antioxidant activity of bioactive substance complex was 23.66±1.18 μmole (in trolox units). Biologically active ingredient complex containing anthraquinones, resveratrol, glycyrrhizinic acid, salidrosides, and icariin has reduced stone formation activity measured by lithos-test (decrease to minimum values in 42 out of 45 patients, р < 0.05).

Conclusion: antioxidant activity of bioactive substance complex containing natural plant components bioactive food additive potentially compensates free radical load thus preventing calcium oxalate urolithiasis.

Keywords: urolithiasis; recurrent urolithiasis; bioactive substance complex containing anthraquinones, resveratrol, glycyrrhizinic acid, salidrosides, and icariin; antioxidant activity; oxidative stress.

For citation: Kamalov A.A., Okhobotov D.A., Nizov A.N. et al. The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of calcium oxalate urolithiasis. RMJ. 2019;11:2–6.