Anticalcifying properties of Dolichos biflorus (horse gram) seeds.

ABSTRACT

In vitro effect of D. biflorus seeds on crystallization of calcium phosphate, a major constituent of kidney stone has been undertaken. There was a marked decrease in anticalcifying activity with the maturation of seeds or post-harvest storage for 6 months. The results suggested that the inhibitors of crystallization present in seed extract of D. biflorus were water soluble, heat stable, polar, non-tannin and non-protein in nature. There were two or more different inhibitors of calcium phosphate precipitation since both the dialysate and the dialysed fractions contained inhibitory activity, though it was more in the dialysed fractions. The anticalcifying activity was lost completely with activated charcoal which was not recovered or eluted by any solvent tried.