Effect of asparagus-P® on cell metabolism of cultured kidney and inflammation-mediating cells

Abstract

Asparagus-P® is a traditional herbal medicinal product consisting of a combination of dried and pulverized asparagus roots and parsley leaves in equal parts. It is commonly used to support aquaretic kidney function, i.e. the increased excretion of water from the kidneys without affecting electrolyte balance. The mechanisms of this aquaretic effectiveness are widely unknown and are controversial. By using two different kidney cell lines (distal tubule-derived Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells and proximal tubule-derived opossum kidney (OK) cells) the study investigated whether a stimulation of basal kidney cell metabolism might be responsible for the increased excretion of water from the kidneys. The results demonstrate that Asparagus-P® was able to stimulate the metabolism of both kidney cell lines in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum stimulation at the recommended daily dosage after distribution in the whole body fluid. Metabolic stimulation was much more pronounced for OK than for MDBK cells. Whether a stimulation of cell metabolism correlates with an increased water excretion is currently unknown, but in vitro data might deliver the first evidence for a better understanding of the mechanism of action. Moreover, Asparagus-P® inhibited the metabolism of inflammation-mediating cells (differentiated human promyelocytes). This increases the information on the antiinflammatory efficacy of Asparagus-P® as already shown by its potential to inactivate reactive oxygen radicals. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.