Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(2): 1-5

International Journal of Health & Nutrition

www.academyjournals.net
ISSN 1309 8071
Orjinal Article

Effect of Corn Silk Extract on Kidney Stone Decomposition in Comparison with

Alkalinizeragent (uralyte)

Abdulwahid SHAMKHY, Rawa'a Al-CHALABI I, Hayder AL-AMERY

University of Al-Nahrian, College of Science, Dept. Of biotechnology, Bagdad, Iraq

Received: 28.03.2012 Accepted: 08.08.2012 Published: 15.08.2012

Abstract

Kidney stone is one of the most important problems in different countries over the world. They are affected by different factors like nutrition,
age, drug history and other environmental and family factors. Locally, corn silk used as decompose of stones. This study proved that corn silk
extract does not act as decompose for kidney stones in comparison with alkalinizer agent which consider effective decompose factors. This
work has been carried out at Al-Yarmook Teaching Hospital for the period between (the 1st of October 2010 to the thirty of April 2011).
Sixty male patient with ages range between (20-60 years) were taken, all of them were suffering from renal stone. They were divided in two
groups (each group consists of 30 patients). The first group of patients with lower urinary stone size ( 6-8 mm), we're advised to take an
alkalinizer agent (Uralyt-U one cup of tea three times daily) while the other group of patients was advised to take corn silk, (two cup of tea
daily ). Corn silk increased the urinary output and increased the percentage the passage of urinary stones through the urinary tracts without
decomposed stones. The alkalinizer agent increases the decomposition of stone mainly radiolucent stone and calcium oxalate stones. Corn silk
was playing an important physical role in treatment by increasing the contraction of smooth muscles an led to increase the urinary output
without decomposition of stones while Uralyt-U- decompose stones by providing alkaline pH.

Key words: Alkalinizer Agent, Corn Silk, Kidney Stone

*
Corresponding author: A. Shamkhy e-mail: abdjabir@yahoo.com, Phone: +9647803677942

INTRODUCTION

The kidney is an important organ of the human .It has
many functions such as remove waste products from the
body, blood pressure regulation, keep bodys chemicals in
balance, and maintain the bodys water balance (Chandhoke
2007). There are many different renal problems that may
occur. Kidney stones represent the most commonly important
problems over the world. The crystals can form in urine from
various salts that build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney.
These crystals can become large enough to form stones in the
kidneys. This type of stones called nephrolithiasis and they
may also form in the ureter or in the bladder (Parmar 2004;
Moe 2006)
Renal stones contain various combinations of chemicals.
The most common types of chemical present in many stones
are calcium in combination with either oxalate, phosphate or
a mixture of them. These chemicals are part of the normal
diet. They made up important parts of the bodies, such as
bones and muscles. The less common types of stone are
caused by infection in the urinary tract. These types of stones
are called a struviteor infection stone. The uric acid stones
and the rarely cystine stones are the less types (Taylor 2005;
Cameron 2007; Miller 2007).
There are many risk factors that can cause stones like diet
include low fluid intake, high intake of animal protein,

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 Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(2): 1-5
sodium, refined sugars, oxalate, grapefruit juice, apple juice
and cola drinks, exercise, family history , drug history,
environmental parameter and kidney disease (Finkielstein
2006; Johri 2010; Wasserstein 2005; Taylor 2005).
The formation of various types of kidney stones is
strongly influenced by the pH of the urine. An alkaline pH
favors for the crystallization of calcium- and phosphate-
containing stones, whereas an acidic pH of the urine promotes
uric acid or cystine stones (Wagner 2010).
Plants have played an important role in maintaining
human health. The medicinal value of plants lies in some
chemical substances that produce a definite physiological
action on the human body. The most important of these
bioactive compounds of plants are alkaloids, tannins and
phenol compound .The main advantage of the treatment with
plant drugs are reducing the side effects that often occur with
the synthesized medicine. This may be due to the lower
concentration of the active compounds found in the plants so
that humans body could be needed. Herbs may be used as
dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine
extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts) (Bruneton 2001).
Corn silk is a rich source of potassium, soothing, relaxing
diuretic and a wonderful remedy for acute inflammation of
the urinary system, such as cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis.
Also helping the passage of urinary stones (Duvick 1999).
Corn silk encourages urination, while the potassium in
the herb offset potassium loss caused by increased urination.
It contains flavonoids (maysin), Alienation , Alkaloids ,
Saponins , Volatile oil, Mucilage , Vitamins B, C and K ,
Silicon. It also has moderate amounts of Iron, Zinc,
Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus Corn silk
works mainly in the urinary tract. The saponins largely act as
an anti-inflammatory in the body and the Allentown as a
healing agent, with the mucilage giving a demulcent or
soothing effect to irritated tissues. The potassium balances out
the diuretic effect of the herb, which is used in conditions of
water retention. Their combined action is useful for a number
of urinary tract conditions, such as cystitis and prostatitis.
Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential for blood
clotting within the body (Evan Peacock 2005).
Uralyt-U is a medication that belongs to the urinary
alkalinize class of drugs, and is mainly used as a non-
irritating diuretic. It's considered to be a urinary pH modifier,
which works to reduce the amount of acid in the urine.
Potassium citrate in this drug is effective in the treatment and
management of a variety of medical disorders, including
urinary calculi (kidney stones), cystine kidney stones, renal
tubular acidosis, gout and hypokalemia. In addition to being
prescribed for patients that need to limit their intake of
potassium and sodium, it's increasing the effectiveness of
some of antibiotics (Coe 2005; Bazari 2007).
2 Aademy Journals 2012
A.Shamkhy et al
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This study was designed to show the difference between
the effect of corn silk and uralyt. Sixty male patients were
taken. Their ages range was between (20- 60 year). This study
was carried out at AL-Yarmook Teaching Hospital during the
period (the 1st of October 2010 to the thirty of April 2011).
Patients suffered from renal stones divided in two groups.
First group advice to take alkaline agent and the second group
have taken corn silk. Both groups exposed to contrast
uropathy intravenously to ass the function of the renal system
and peristalsis movement after treatment with corn silk and
alkaline agent.
Preparation of Corn Silk Extract
Corn silk was obtained from local market and used as
infusion fresh or dried in urinary tract infections. An aqueous
extraction was performed by adding 200 ml boiling water to
10 GM corn silk, filtering after 20 min and then taking 1 cup
two times daily has been taken (Gu1 2009).
Measurement of Uric Acid Concentration (Uricase
Method)
Uric acid concentration was measured by using a kit
which obtained commercially from (BIOLABO/France).
Kit depends on uricase acts on uric acid to produce
alienation, carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen
peroxide in the presence of peroxide reacts with a chromogen
to yield quinoneimine a red colored complex. The absorbance
measured at 520 NM is proportional to the amount of uric
acid in the specimen. The procedure wae as follow: one ml of
reagent was put in tube and then 25 l of sample was added
and mixing. The mixture was kept for 10 minutes at 37 C.
After that the observance was measured at 540nm. The
results were calculated according to this formula: Uric acid
concentration= Test / Stander x factor. The value of the
factors given by the supplier in this case the factor was (10)
Measurement of Calcium Concentration (CPC
Method)
Calcium concentration was measured by using a kit
which obtained commercially from (BIOLABO/France). Kit
depends on a CPC (O-Cresol Phtalein Complexone) in
alkaline solution it reacts with calcium to form a dark red
colored. The complex which absorbed at 570nm. It is
proportional to the amount of calcium in the specimen.
In this procedure we have two reagents, 0.5ml of reagent
one and 0.5ml of reagent two were mixed and then 20ul of
standard were added and tht asbsorbance measure at 570 nM.
The same think was repeatedly put we add 20ul of the sample
instead of the stander and kept at let at 37 C for 10 minutes
 Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(2): 1-5 A.Shamkhy et al
and then the observance were measured at 520 NM. The calcium in the serum of patients infected with calcium
results then calculated according to the formula calcium oxalate stones after the interval time of drinking corn silk.
concentration = Test/standard x factor. The factor in this case The increase in the value of calcium was nearly same after all
was (8) the time and it is nearly equal to the containing of corn silk of
calcium (1.9 mg/ dl) as mentioned before. That indicates the
Identification of Ureter Contractions effect corn silk is not chemically but physically.
Ureter contractions by prestatilsis can be identified by
two methods: through out flow of urine by ultrasound or by Table 2 Patients infected with calisum oxalte stones.
I.V.U under fluoroscopic guide inside the ESWL unit in No of Ages The value of calcium in the serum of
Alyarmok teaching hospital. Patients the patients after drink uralyt mg/dl
0 day 5 days 10 days 15 days
RESULTS
1 50 6.2 6.2 8.8 9.7
The experiment as we had mentioned before designed to 2 57 6.5 5.9 9.0 10.8
measure the value of the dissociation of calcium and uric acid
3 60 7.0 10.3 11.7 13.5
which give an indication about the effect of using corn silk
4 45 8.8 8.5 10.0 11.3
and Uralyt-U as a decomposed agent of kidney stone. The
5 49 9.0 9.7 11.2 13.6
normal value of calcium is (8.5- 10.5 mg/dl) and the normal
value of uric acid is (3-7 mg/dl), rate of Ca ++ of natural corn 6 58 9.1 11.7 14.3 21.5
silk=1. 9. Table one indicates the values of calcium in the 7 43 8.0 6.8 8.9 13.6
serum of patients infected with uric acid stones after the 8 60 7.9 10.0 11.0 12.2
interval time of drinking uralyt. The data show that there is 9 53 5.9 8.8 10.4 11.0
some gradual increase in the value of calcium by time, and 10 9 7.0 9.0 10.5 12.0
also the increase differs from patient to another. 11 29 7.0 8.3 9.5 10.9
12 25 8.0 8.0 10.3 13.0
Table 1 Patient infected with uric acid stones. 13 22 5.7 5.2 8.0 11.0
14 20 8.2 9.2 11.0 12.7
No of Ages The value of calcium in the serum of 15 20 6.0 7.4 8.9 10.0
Patients the patients after drink uralyt mg/dl
0 day 5 days 10 days 15 days Table 3 Patients infected with calisum oxalte stones treated
16 46 3.9 2.9 6.00 7.50 with corn silk.
17 38 5.0 7.0 10.0 11.30
18 57 6.0 5.8 6.30 7.20 No of Ages The value of calcium in the serum of
19 60 4.7 3.8 6.00 8.20 Patients the patients after drink corn silk mg/dl
20 46 3.8 2.9 4.30 7.50 (2 cap/day)
21 43 5.6 4.9 7.10 8.80 0 day 5 days 10 days 15 days
22 36 7.0 5.6 6.90 9.00 31 50 6.8 8.8 10.0 10.1
23 25 8.0 6.5 8.10 10.00 32 57 5,0 7.2 7.2 7.2
24 27 9,0 7.3 9.00 10.90 33 60 8.0 10.1 10.2 10.2
25 32 7.9 7.9 9.30 11.5 34 45 7.1 9.2 9.2 9.3
26 32 6.0 5.3 7.10 9.30 35 49 7.5 9.4 9.4 9.4
27 60 10 8 10.10 12 36 58 5.2 7.0 7.1 7.1
28 59 8.0 7.5 10.40 19.80 37 43 4.9 6.9 6.9 6.9
29 47 5,3 4.5 5.20 8.00 38 60 7.0 9.0 9.2 9.2
30 38 6.1 3.0 6.60 7.9 39 53 6.5 8.6 8.6 8.6
40 9 7.0 9.4 9.5 9.5
Table two contain the value of calcium of patients 41 29 6.5 8.7 8.8 8.8
infected with calcium oxalate stones after the interval time of 42 25 6.7 8.8 8.7 8.8
drinking urlat. The dates show that there is some gradual 43 22 5.0 7.0 7.2 7.2
increase in the value of calcium by time. The amount of 44 20 5.4 7.4 7.4 7.4
calcium increase differs from patient to another and that was 45 20 6.0 6.0 7.9 7.9
also found in table one. Table three shows the value of

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 Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(2): 1-5 A.Shamkhy et al
The data in table four show the direct effect of both corn Table 6 The value of calcium after treatment patients of uric
silk and urlyt on both types of stones. These data give us acid stone with both corn silk and alkalinizer agent.
strong inducation that corn silk has no direct effect on the
both types of stones but the urlyt has. Corn silk Alkalinizer P value
Table five and six show the statical analysis of the data extract for for UA
UA stones stones
given in the bereves tables.
Serum UA (mg/dl) 6.251.86 6.401.86 0.831
(3.6-9.7) (3.8-10.0)
Table 4 The value of calcium after soaking stones in silk and
urlyte solutions. UA level (mg/dl) 0 5.531.83 -
after 5 days (2.9-8.0)

UA level (mg/dl) 0 7.511.92 -

Types of Time of Types of Calcium after 10 days (4.3-10.6)
stones soaking solutions mg/dl
UA level (mg/dl) 0 9.933.16 -
Corn silk 2 after 15 days (7.2-19.8)
5 days
urlyte 13.6
Calcium *Significant using Students-t-test for two independent means or paired
oxalate Corn silk 3.12 two means t-test at 0.05 level of significance
stones 10 days urlyte 16.2
Corn silk 4,3 DISCUSSION
15 days urlyte 22.4
Corn silic 0.1 Table one patients treated with Uralyt give different
Uric acid 5 days urlyte 5.2 values of calcium verses time reflecting a significant effect of
stones uralyt on the decomposition of the calcium oxalate stones
Corn silk o.19
while table two show that the gradually increasing in the
10 days urlyte 9.6 values of uric acid stones after treated with Uralyt is
Corn silk 0.21 proportional to time and give significant difference with each
15 days urlyte 16.8 period but the treated patients infected with uric acid stones
do not give any detectable change in value of uric acid after
Table 5 The value of calcium after treatment patients of all the periods of time. Table three shows that patients treated
calcium oxalate stone with both corn silk and alkalinizer with corn silk extract (two cups daily) do not change the
agent. values of calcium significantly and the changes appear to be
so closed to the normal percent of calcium which found
originally in the corn silk extract.
Corn silk Alkalinizer for P value Increasing detectable change in the value of calcium and
extract for CaOx stones value of uric acid after treated with alkalinizer agent indicate
CaOx that Uralyt was act as a powerful decompose agent, while the
stones
none changeable value of calcium and uric acid after
Serum Ca 6.271.00 7.261.21 0.021*
treatment with corn silk reflect no significant role of corn silk
(mg/dl) (4.9-8.0) (5.0-9.1)
as a decomposed agent of stones.
Ca level 2.050.16 8.341.79 0.0001* Although corn silk is not decomposed agent for stones
(mg/dl) (1.8-2.4) (5.2-11.7) but plays an important role in the treatment of kidney stones
after 5
days
as a physical agent which increase the rate of stone passage in
Ca level 2.170.33 10.251.55 0.0001* 85% of patients and increase the urinary output through the
(mg/dl) (1.9-3.2) (8.0-14.3) urinary tracts by increasing contraction of ureter smooth
after 10 muscle and ass the function of the renal system and bristles
days
Ca level 2.270.59 12.472.80 0.0001*
movement after corn silk uptake. Which determined by
(mg/dl) (1.9-4.3) (9.7-21.5) abdominal ultrasound and intravenous pyelography.The effect
after 15 of corn silk belongs to its composition that contain different
days materials specially potassium which considered to be a
*Significant using Students-t-test for two independent means or paired urinary pH modifier, which works to reduce the amount of
two means t-test at 0.05 level of significance
acid in the urine. It is effective in the treatment and
management of a variety of medical disorders, including

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 Int J Health Nutr 2012 3(2): 1-5
urinary calculi (kidney stones), cystine kidney stones.
Potassium gets absorbed quickly by the body, and is then
excreted as a carbonate salt. It also works as a diuretic by
helping the body urinate regularly. As a result, symptoms that
result from having an excessive amount acid in the urine. It's
able to modify the urinary pH level (a measure of the acidity),
lowering and neutralizing the total amount of acid in the
urine.
A.Shamkhy et al
Coe FL, Evan A, and E, Worcester. Kidney stone disease. The Journal of
Clinical Investigation 2005;115 (10): 2598608.
Bazari H, 2007. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L,
Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders
Elsevier;chap 115.
Gu1 J, Liu T, Han L, and Y, Liu .Nutrition and metabolism .2009; Vol (6):
47

CONCLUSIONS

An Alkalinizer agent like Uralyt-U able to decomposed

stones because change the pH of the urine from acid to
alkaline. This has the effect of reducing stinging and irritation
at the time of urination .While corn silk extract not
decomposed stone but increase urinary output. We note after
consumptions of corn silk the peristalsis movement of the
ureter increase from 2-5 /min. to 4-8/min. But after alkalizing
agent mildly increase in movement to 4-5 /min. its normally
movement from 2-5 /min.
Generally speaking an adult requires an intake of 2-3
liters of liquid per day in order to maintain adequate hydration
and good urinary output. Some substances such as alcohol
and the caffeine containing drinks (tea, coffee and cola
drinks) can cause significant bladder irritation

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