World health organization has recently published a strategic plan for the development and promotion of traditional system of medicine. Herbal pathies especially Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicines have great scope in this aspect. But, there are several problems with these pathies in the current era, as the way of research and identification is still on classical system. The correct identification of medicinal plant is one of the major problems in both the system. This should be corrected with the modern tools and techniques. The various types of data including recent discoveries, economical growth, ethnobotanical literature and extremely rapid increase in herbal journals and books have emerged great scope for these pathies. At the same time several challenges and threats are present including herb-drug interaction, false reports, toxicity studies etc. In this review paper, opportunities, threats, and researches to be focused will be discussed.

Nephrotoxicity is a poisonous effect of some substances, both toxic chemicals and medication on the kidneys. A number of therapeutic agents like certain antibiotics, anticancer drugs and other synthetic molecules adversely affect the kidney resulting in life threatening renal diseases. Nephrotoxicity is one of the major problems in the current era. These drugs from the treasure of traditional systems of medicines can also be used to protect the renal function and delay the progression of renal damage that leads to several life threatening diseases. The Unani System of Medicine possesses a number of drugs which are effective in various renal disorders. Some of the single as well as compound formulations mentioned in Unani literature have been evaluated for their effects on renal disorders and reported to possess anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antioxidant and nephro-protective effects against known toxicants. The researchers are keen to develop some good and cost effective drugs from the sources of traditional medicine. In the present review paper, concept of nephro-protection and herbal drugs mentioned as nephro-protective in classical literature of Unani system of medicine will be elaborated.