The influence of <i>Zea mays</i> on urinary risk factors for kidney stones in rats

Abstract

Abstract The effects on the calcium oxalate urolithiasis urinary risk factors of Zea mays (stigmata maidis) , in herb infusion form, combined with different diets (standard, high glucidic, high protein) have beer studied using male Wistar rats. From the reported study, the possible antilithiasic effects of Zea mais infusion can be exclusively assigned to some diuretic activity. Thus, no influence on important urinary risk factors such as citraturia, calciuria or urinary pH values was detected. It is interesting to emphasize that the diuretic effect of the herb infusion was clearly dependent on the diet and was maximum when the rats were fed with the standard one.