Jornal de Bioquímica e Fisiologia Vegetal
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Raphides in Food - An Unsafe Menu

Naveen Tripathi, Chandra Bose, Srijoni Basu, Nabajit Das, Susmit Maitra, Arindam Sikdar and Sukant Khurana

Calcium oxalate in plant bodies lead to stones in kidney, upon consumption. Calcium oxalate is frequently found in plants in the form of tiny needle like raphides. Out of the 5 types of calcium oxalate crystals, raphides are the predominant ones. Calcium oxalate gets incorporated in our body through plant derived food that contains them; a little amount of them is also synthesized in humans endogenously. Both the sources contribute to kidney problems. Occurrence of calcium oxalate is not limited to higher plants only but also extends to algae, fungi and lichens. Out of all the 3 forms of calcium oxalate, monohydrate form is the one widely reported to cause kidney problems. In this study, we review raphides and explore their possible remediation in order to utilize plants of food and medicinal importance the better way. We also review traditional knowledge of raphide neutralization and point to the methods of removal of calcium oxalate and raphides.