OBJECTIVETo compare the crystal form with the toxicity intensitity of raphides in four poisonous herbs of Araceae family.

METHODThe four kinds of raphides were extracted and isolated from Pinellia ternate, P. pedatisecta, Arisaema amurense and Typhonium giganteum. These raphides were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the elements were analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Infrared spectrum was used for detecting the functional groups. Toxic intensities of the four kinds of raphides were detected by mice acute toxicity experiment, and the value of LD0 were from caculated by Bliss rule.

RESULTThe raphides in the four plants have the similar crystal form. Observation with SEM showed a pointed and blunt end, and a long groove and barbs on a raphide. The raphides in P. ternate and P. pedatisecta were sharper than that in other two, respectively. The results of X-ray diffraction, photoelectric spectra showed that the major component of raphides was calcium oxalate monohydrate, and also showed the elements of N and S existing. Infrared spectra showed the raphides contained functional groups of -COOH and -NH2. These results illustrated that the calcium oxalate monohydrate was not the only component of the raphide. The raphides could produce severe toxic reactions. LD50 values of P. ternate, P. pedatisecta, A. amurense and T. giganteum were 14.78, 14.11, 16.02 and 18.90 mg x kg(-1) (ip), respectively. The corresponding LD50 values of crude drugs were all above 3000 mg x kg(-1) (ip). The toxicity of raphides was 200 times of crude drugs'.

CONCLUSIONThe raphides in P. ternate and P. pedatisecta, A. amurense and T. giganteum were their common poisonous factor.

Animals ; Araceae ; chemistry ; Calcium Oxalate ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Crystallization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; toxicity

OBJECTIVEThe microscopic structure and histochemical localization of the Polygonatum sibiricum, P. cytonema, P. filipes, P. zanlanscianense and P. odoratum was studied.

METHODScanning electron microscope (SEM) and digital biological microscope (DBM) were applied in the research.

RESULTVenation bundle showed in three types included collateral, amphivasal and incomplete amphivasal bundles. Morphological differences of venation bundles could be seen under the fluorescence microscope. Calcium oxalate existed in the mucilage cells looked similar to columnar crystals under SEM. In rhizome of Polygonatum, polysaccharides presented in mucilage cells, saponins and volatile oil were found in ground tissue.

CONCLUSIONMicrostructure difference of rhizomes would be used for identification of the Polygonatum plants. Polysaccharides and saponins are distributed in different cells of Polygonatum plants.

Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Histocytochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Saponins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo validate the irritation effects of calcium oxalate crystal in several herbal drugs which come from Araceae plants.

METHODCompared the irritation of pure calcium oxalate crystals isolated from the raw rhizome of Typhonium flagelliforme, T. giganteum and Arisaema erubescens and studied the quantity and irritating effect relationship of different concentration suspensions of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals by using the model of rabbits' eyes.

RESULTCalcium oxalate crystals isolated from above three rau rhizome typhonium rhizome showed strong irritation effects on rabbits' eyes. Under the condition of same content of calcium oxalate crystals, there were no difference in irritation effect between the suspensions of raw medicinal materials and pure calcium oxalate crystals. The degree of irritation on rabbits' eyes showed undoubted quantity and irritating effect relationship with the concentrations of Calcium oxalate crystel.

CONCLUSIONCalcium oxalate crystal is the irritant component in some herbal drugs which come from Araceae plants.

Animals ; Araceae ; chemistry ; Calcium Oxalate ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eye ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

In 2018, external quality assessment trials for urinalysis and fecal occult blood (FOB) were performed using 1,590 participants. Urine chemistry tests were performed thrice while urine sediment and FOB tests twice. Urine chemistry tests comprised of pH, protein, glucose, ketone body, bilirubin, blood, urobilinogen, nitrite, leukocyte, and specific gravity analyses. The results of urine chemistry and specific gravity tests showed accuracy rates >95%, except for the pH test. The accuracy rate of urine sediments was low, especially for atypical calcium oxalate crystal and red blood cell cast. In the FOB quality test, reagents showed accuracy rates >90%, except for SD and GC Genedia FOB reagents. In the FOB quantitative test, Alfresa NS-Plus C instrument showed falsely high values in the FOB negative specimens.
Bilirubin ; Calcium Oxalate ; Chemistry ; Erythrocytes ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Indicators and Reagents ; Leukocytes ; Occult Blood ; Quality Control ; Specific Gravity ; Urinalysis ; Urobilinogen

Plants in Acaceae family are often considered as ornamental and medicines. However many of them have irritation properties. As medicinal plants some of them are recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia and they are figured as poisonous. Through investigating the domestic and overseas studied paper, the needle-like calcium oxalate crystal exits in the plants of Acaceae family could be thought as irritation components of them. This conclusion is same with the studied conclusion of our study group in the medicines plant of Pinellia ternate belonging to the Acaceae family and our studies showed that the needle-like calcium oxalate crystal was the main irritation component of raw P. ternate. The irritated mechanism of raphides is relevant to its special shape, the protein enzyme adhering to it and idioblasts in plants.
Araceae ; chemistry ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; poisoning ; Conjunctival Diseases ; chemically induced ; Crystallization ; Dermatitis, Contact ; etiology ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; drug effects ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

No abstract available.
Bone Marrow/*metabolism/pathology ; Calcium Oxalate/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperoxaluria/*etiology ; Kidney Calculi/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy/*adverse effects ; Pancytopenia/*pathology ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency/etiology ; Thyrotropin/blood

OBJECTIVETo seek the methods in the prevention and cure of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province.

METHODSTwenty random urinary stones were quantitatively and morphologically analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD).

RESULTSCalcium oxalate (about 70%) was the main composition of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province; while 30% of which was uric acid stones. Most calcium oxalate stones contain phosphate; however, its content usually was less than 10%.

CONCLUSIONSCalcium oxalate, uric acid and phosphate are the main compositions of urinary stones in the Zhujiang valley in Guangdong province. The compositions and phases of urinary stones can be obtained accurately by the combination of XPS and XRD.

Adult ; Aged ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Powder Diffraction ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; methods ; Uric Acid ; analysis ; Urinary Calculi ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods

OBJECTIVEElucidating the detoxification mechanism of the raw Pinellia ternata processed by alum solution or alkaline solution (pH > 12).

METHODRaw Pinellia ternata was immersed in alum solution and alkaline solution according to Chinese pharmacopoeia. Observed the shape's changing of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals by scanning electro-microscopy. Determinating the contents of calcium oxalate crystals by applying oxidation reduction titration. Measured the irritations of raw P. ternata and various processing products on the model of rabbits'eyes.

RESULTAfter processed by 8% alum solution prescribed in Chinese pharmacopoeia or 10% sodium carbonate solution, the needle-like shape of raphides in raw Pinellia ternata were changing and the sting barb of raphides were rusted and dissolved, the contents of calcium oxalate crystal in raw Pinellia ternata were sharply declined from more than 1% to less than 0.5%. the decline of contents is relative to the irritation decline of P. ternata on rabbit's eyes. Less than 0.5% calcium oxalate crystals of P. ternata almost had no irritation.

CONCLUSIONAfter processed by 8% alum solution or sodium carbonate solution (pH > 12) , the irritation components in raw P. ternata could be rusted and dissolved, the needle point of raphides was broken, which led to the raphides'content declining and the irritation disappearing. The micro-structures, shapes and contents of calcium oxalate crystals in different medicine plants were not same. These properties of calcium oxalate crystal in India Madder Root and yam et al were very different from those in raw P. ternata.

Alum Compounds ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Oxalate ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Carbonates ; chemistry ; Conjunctiva ; drug effects ; Crystallization ; Drug Interactions ; Eye Diseases ; chemically induced ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Rabbits ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo test whether the raphides in Tian Nanxing (Pinellia pedatisecta Schott) caused irritation.

METHODScan Electron Microscope and Microscope Oberservation; Animal experimental study.

RESULTThrough the comparision of unprocessed Tian Nanxing to processed ones which included 36 h, 72 h, 120 h processed samples, the great modifications in the structure of raphides, especially for the ones with barbs in the processed samples was observed with time course study. A further animal experimental study went to show that the rate of change for raphides with barbs existed a dose-reponse relationship to irritation.

CONCLUSIONInvestigations of the causes of these reactions showed that raphides of calcium oxalate are, at least in part, responsible for the Tian Nanxing's irritation.

Acetic Acid ; Alum Compounds ; Animals ; Calcium Oxalate ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Conjunctival Diseases ; chemically induced ; Crystallization ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Edema ; chemically induced ; Hot Temperature ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

INTRODUCTION: Cystone is an approved Ayurvedic polyherbal proprietary medicine used in India for various urinary disorders, including urolithiasis. AIM: To evaluate the protective effect of Cystone against hyperoxaluria-induced oxidative stress and calcium oxalate crystal deposition in urolithiasis. METHODS: Ethylene glycol (EG) (0.75%, V/V) in drinking water was given to rats for 28 days to induce urolithiasis with simultaneous treatment of Cystone (500 and 750 mg/kg body weight), and various urinary risk factors of urolithiasis and antioxidant markers were assessed. RESULTS: EG treatment lead to increased urine volume and lowered urinary pH, along with increased urinary excretion of oxalate, calcium and phosphate in untreated animals. These changes caused extensive calcium oxalate crystal deposition, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase and GPx) in the kidney of untreated rats. Cystone prevented these hyperoxaluric manifestations and inhibited calcium oxalate crystal deposition in treated rats at both doses. CONCLUSIONS Cystone therapy provides protection against hyperoxaluria-induced oxidative stress and calcium oxalate crystal deposition by improving renal tissue antioxidant status and diuresis.
Animals ; Calcium Oxalate ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Humans ; Hyperoxaluria ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; India ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Urolithiasis ; drug therapy ; metabolism