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. 2019 Jan 20:2019:1408979.
doi: 10.1155/2019/1408979. eCollection 2019.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) for Treatment and Prevention of Urolithiasis: A Drosophila Animal Study

Wen-Chi Chen  1   2 , Tzu-Yang Chou  3 , Huey-Yi Chen  1   2 , You-Rong Yang  2 , Kee-Ming Man  4   5 , Ming-Yen Tsai  1   6 , Yung-Hsiang Chen  1   2   7
Affiliations

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) for Treatment and Prevention of Urolithiasis: A Drosophila Animal Study

Wen-Chi Chen et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. .

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been prescribed for the treatment of stone disease for thousands of years. Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) was previously shown to have potential for treatment of stone disease in animal and clinical studies. In this study, we further studied the antiurolithiasis effect of Danshen in a fly model. Wild-type male Drosophila melanogaster CS flies were used in this study, with 0.25% ethylene glycol (EG) as a lithogenic agent. 2% potassium citrate (K-citrate) was the positive control agent for prevention (all agents added at the start of experiment) and treatment (drugs added after 2-week addition of lithogenic agent) studies compared with 15, 30, and 60 μg/ml of Danshen extract. In the prevention study, both 2% K-citrate and Danshen (30 and 60 μg/ml) significantly inhibited EG-induced calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation. In the treatment study, only 2% K-citrate and high-dose of Danshen (60 μg/ml) significantly inhibited EG-induced CaOx crystal formation. Survival analysis for EG with Danshen was compared with that for EG with K-citrate. The mean lifespan was significantly reduced by administration of EG, and the results in the Danshen group were similar to those in the control group. In conclusion, Danshen revealed both preventive and treatment effects on CaOx crystal formation in a fly model.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of K-citrate and Danshen on EG-induced crystal deposition in the Malpighian tubules of Drosophila. The images show representative polarized microscopy for the flies with 0.25% EG-induced crystal formation in Malpighian tubules.
Figure 2
Figure 2
In the prevention study, the rates of CaOx crystal formation. Crystal formation in 0.25% EG, 2% K-citrate, and 15, 30, and 60 μg/ml Danshen-treated Drosophila (n ≅ 150 for each group). ∗P < 0.05, compared to the control. #P < 0.05, compared to the 0.25% EG-treated group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
In the treatment study, the rates of CaOx crystal formation. Crystal formation in 0.25% EG, 2% K-citrate, and 15, 30, and 60 μg/ml Danshen-treated Drosophila (n ≅ 150 for each group). ∗P < 0.05, compared to the control. #P < 0.05, compared to the 0.25% EG-treated group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Lifespan of control, 0.25% EG, EG + 2% K-citrate, and EG + 60 μg/ml Danshen-treated flies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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