A comprehensive review of medicinal plants of Northeast India used in urolithiasis

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a prevalent urinary disorder developed by the formation of calculi or stones in the excretory system with a high recurrence and morbidity rate. Urolithiasis is associated with changes in the physiochemical properties of the urine, along with the aggregation and nucleation of various stone-forming substances that contribute to stone formation, such as calcium, phosphate, and oxalate. Recent advancements in the medical sector have led to the use of allopathic medicines and interventional therapies, but these often come with high costs and may not consistently yield satisfactory outcomes. In contrast, conventional treatments are easily accessible, cost-effective, and lower the recurrence rate of stone-forming substances. Northeast India (NEI) is renowned for its abundant biodiversity of medicinal herbs used in herbal remedies by tribal and local people to address these stone-related issues. This review aims to analyze the data on 101 plants from 50 families obtained from various online databases. Among them, Rutaceae and Fabaceae families represent the highest number of plants used by the indigenous people of NEI, and Manipur (39) uses the highest number of plants against urolithiasis. Leaves (39) are the most commonly used plant part, and decoctions and juices are the most common modes of administration, taken orally. However, overexploitation, destruction, and various anthropogenic and natural calamities have resulted in the rapid vanishing of these resources and traditional knowledge. Therefore, their conservation is our first duty to protect these resources and save this indigenous knowledge for better mankind.