Cantharis dissolves calculus in the ureter of a kitten: case repor

Urolithiasis is a disease thatcan occur alone or together, obstruct the urinary flow, and even progress to the animal's death. Objective:The present study is to report the dissolution of calculus in the ureter in a kitten. Methodology: a feline, SRD, male, started at 3 months old with the signs of vomiting, constipation,and hematuria, presenting leukocytosis and increased serum urea. Two abdominal ultrasounds were performed 30 days apart and the third at 3 months. Results:Inthe first ultrasound there was hydronephrosis in the right kidney and dilation of the ureter and microlithiasis in the urinary bladder. The animalhad already been treated with antibiotic therapy and did not improve. Given these characteristics, Cantharis Vesicatoria30cH was administered, there was no more hematuria and when the drug was discontinued, the symptom returned. After 30 days of startinghomeopathic treatment, we repeated the ultrasound which showed 2 kidney stones, and a urinary bladder with cystitis associated with sandy lithiasis. BerberisVulgaris30cH was then administered for 15 days, after which both drugs were discontinued and theanimal remained asymptomatic. After 3 months the ultrasound was repeated which showed 2 kidney stones, Causticum6cH was inserted for 14 days to dissolvekidney stones, thus preventing the return of the initial symptoms. Conclusion:the treatment was beneficial for the patient, who was asymptomatic after the use of Causticum.Considering the natural history of the disease in cats and the high chance of recurrence of the disease, the recommendation was to monitor the organs through an annual ultrasound examination, in addition to encouraging water intake.

Acute hypotensive and diuretic activities of Berberis vulgaris root bark aqueous extract in normal rats

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous administration of Berberis vulgaris root bark aqueous extract (BRBD) on the cardiovascular and renal functions of healthy normotensive rats. The different doses of BRBD 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg were administered intravenously (i.v) in normal rats. Blood pressure, diuretic activity and serum renal profile were analyzed. Intravenous injection of BRBD at the different doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg showed a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (P<0.001). At different doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg, the hypotensive effect remained for more than one hour. Single dose administration of BRBD at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg caused a significant increase in urine output (P<0.001) as compared to the control rats. Serum renal profile test (albumin, Urea, Uric Acid, creatinine and BUN) did not show any significant alteration. The authors conclude that the BRBD is a potent hypotensive and possesses diuretic potential

Hypoglycaemic effect of Berberis vulgaris L. in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

To achieve a primary pharmacological screening contained in the aqueous extract of Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris) and to examine the hypoglycaemic effect and biochemical parameters of aqueous and saponins extract on groups of rats rendered diabetic by injection of streptozotocin. Methods: The phytochemical tests to detect the presence of different compounds were based on the visual observation of color change or formation of precipitate after the addition of specific reagents. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 65 mg/kg bw. The fasting blood glucose levels were estimated by glucose oxidase-peroxidase reactive strips (Dextrostix, Bayer Diagnostics). Blood samples were taken by cutting the tip of the tail. Serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were estimated by enzymatic DHBS colorimetric method. Results: Administration of 62.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of saponins and aqueous extract respectively in normal rats group shows a significant hypoglycemic activity (32.33% and 40.17% respectively) during the first week. However, diabetic group treated with saponin extract produced a maximum fall of 73.1% and 76.03% at day 1 and day 21 compared to the diabetics control. Also, blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract showed decrease of 78.79% on the first day and the effect remains roughly constant during 3 week. Both extracts also declined significantly biochemical parameters (20.77%-49.00%). The control in the loss of body weight was observed in treated diabetic rats as compared to diabetic controls.Conclusions:These results demonstrated significant antidiabetic effects and showed that serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides levels were decreased, significantly, consequently this plant might be of value in diabetes treatment.

Hypoglycaemic effect of Berberis vulgaris L. in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To achieve a primary pharmacological screening contained in the aqueous extract of Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris) and to examine the hypoglycaemic effect and biochemical parameters of aqueous and saponins extract on groups of rats rendered diabetic by injection of streptozotocin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The phytochemical tests to detect the presence of different compounds were based on the visual observation of color change or formation of precipitate after the addition of specific reagents. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 65 mg/kg bw. The fasting blood glucose levels were estimated by glucose oxidase-peroxidase reactive strips (Dextrostix, Bayer Diagnostics). Blood samples were taken by cutting the tip of the tail. Serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were estimated by enzymatic DHBS colorimetric method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Administration of 62.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of saponins and aqueous extract respectively in normal rats group shows a significant hypoglycemic activity (32.33% and 40.17% respectively) during the first week. However, diabetic group treated with saponin extract produced a maximum fall of 73.1% and 76.03% at day 1 and day 21 compared to the diabetics control. Also, blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract showed decrease of 78.79% on the first day and the effect remains roughly constant during 3 week. Both extracts also declined significantly biochemical parameters (20.77%-49.00%). The control in the loss of body weight was observed in treated diabetic rats as compared to diabetic controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results demonstrated significant antidiabetic effects and showed that serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides levels were decreased, significantly, consequently this plant might be of value in diabetes treatment.</p>