Antiurolithiatic effect of ferulic acid on ethylene glycolinduced renal calculus in experimental rats

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-urolithiatic effect of ferulic acid on ethylene glycol-induced kidney stone in a rat model.Methods: Five groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 rats/group) were used in this study. Group I rats served as normal control. Renal calculus was induced through ethylene glycol (0.75 % v/v in drinking water) administration to all rats for 28 days except those in group 1. Prior to ethylene glycol treatment, ferulic acid was given orally (gavage) to rats in groups III and IV at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, respectively. Rats in group V (positive control) were treated with standard drug, cystone at a dose of 750 mg/kg prior to ethylene glycol administration, while group II rats received no treatment. Kidney tissue and blood serum were sampled after 28 days and used for biochemical and histopathological analyses.Results: Rats in group II showed significant increases in oxidative stress pattern as seen in significant reductions in GSH, SOD, GPx, and CAT levels, and significant elevation of lipid peroxidation (LPO), relative to normal control group (p < 0.05). However, renal calculus formation and oxidative stress were significantly inhibited by ferulic acid treatment in groups III and IV. These results were supported by histopathological findings.Conclusion: Ferulic acid exerts anti-urolithiatic effect via inhibition of oxidative stress. Thus, it has potentials for use in preventing kidney stone formation.Keywords: Urolithiasis, Ferulic acid, Ethylene glycol, Kidney, Histopathology