Abstract:
Background: Berberis vulgaris is the most widely used drug in Homoeopathy for
treating urolithiasis. However, its mechanism of action in alleviating its consequences
remains uncertain.
Objective: To explicate the potential role of Homoeopathic preparation of B. vulgaris
on in vitro Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization.
Materials and Methods: Spectrophotometric crystallization assay was carried out,
and the slopes of the nucleation (till the maximum) and aggregation (after the peak)
phases were calculated using linear regression analysis, and the percentage inhibition
exerted by the modifiers was calculated. Light microscopic observation of CaOx
crystals formed in the presence or absence of modifiers was carried out to support the
outcome with spectrophotometric crystallization assays and to ascertain the potential
role of B. vulgaris in CaOx crystallization.
Results: The crystallization studies performed so far signifies B. vulgaris to be a potent
drug against CaOx crystallization both at the level of nucleation and aggregation.
Conclusion: Our present findings add up to the experimental evidence to support the
efficacy of the homeopathic preparation of the B. vulgaris in modulating the primary
events of stone formation.
