Protective effects of Cuminum cyminum L. essential oil on ethylene glycol induced nephrolithiasis in mice

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of Cuminum cyminum (C. cyminum) essential oil on ethylene glycol induced nephrolithiasis in mice. Methods: The study comprised of the following four different groups of six mice: ethylene glycol group, C. cyminum group, treatment group and normal group. The levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were analyzed and the kidney samples from all the animals of each group were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Results: Treatment group revealed mild tubular degeneration without formation of calcium oxalate crystals and protein deposition. There were no significant differences between serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in treatment and normal groups. Conclusions: It seems that C. cyminum essential oil significantly decreased formation of calcium oxalate crystals and the growth of renal calculi in different parts of the tubules.