Beneficial antioxidative effect of the homeopathic preparation of Berberis vulgaris in alleviating oxidative stress in experimental urolithiasis.

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress is a major mediator in the pathophysiology of several kidney diseases. The cellular damage is mediated by an alteration in the antioxidant status, which increases the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the stationary state (oxidative stress). Therefore, interventions favoring the scavenging and/or depuration of ROS should attenuate or prevent the oxidative stress, thereby safeguarding the kidneys against damage. In this sense, this study attempts to evaluate the extent of oxidative stress in experimental urolithiasis by measuring some parameters of oxidant stress and antioxidant defenses in rat kidneys, before and after Berberis vulgaris homeopathic preparation supplementation, and to assess the role, if any, of homeopathic treatment in mitigating free radical toxicity in kidney stone disease. METHODS Rat model of urolithiasis was established by administering 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) in drinking water, and the effects of a homeopathic preparation of B. vulgaris root bark (HPBV) on the renal antioxidative defense system as well as on potent markers of free radical activities were investigated. RESULTS HPBV brought about an augmentation in the activities of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and improved the nonenzymatic antioxidants, e.g., tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and glutathione. HPBV ameliorated the malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels and restored renal thiols almost completely. CONCLUSION Thus, it is shown that HPBV acts as a renoprotective remedy in alleviating the renal calculi-associated oxidative damage by upregulating the antioxidant status.