Perspective Chapter: Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Nephrolithiasis

Abstract

Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) impacts a significant group of individuals today as a result of changing lifestyles. Over the past decade, there has been a revival of interest in the study of medicinal plants as a source of potential herbal medicine. Herbal medicine could become a new phase in the medical system for human disease management within the next few decades. In fact, a number of studies strongly suggest using medicinal herbs as one of the anti-nephrolithiatic treatments. Different bioactive substances found in plants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, furanochromones, alkaloids, and terpenoids, may be useful in halting the development of stones. These natural resources do in fact contain bioactive compounds of many types, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which have recently been shown to have potent anti-nephrolithiatic properties. However, the outcomes of the experiments that have been conducted with these natural substances are still in the preclinical stages. Future research on clinical applications may therefore be a fruitful way to confirm the clinical utility of these medications.

Protective Role of Rosmarinic Acid in Experimental Urolithiasis: Understanding Its Impact on Renal Parameters

“…Furthermore, within cultural practices, a diverse array of plant-based therapy is employed to prevent lithogenesis, by enhancing diuresis, alleviating pain, or facilitating natural elimination by the body. This utilization can be attributed to the presence of numerous bioactive compounds in these plants, including polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins, furanochromones, alkaloids, and terpenoids [ 7 ].…”

“…Rosmarinic acid is a phenolic acid highly found in those plants [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], but its isolated form has received limited research attention in relation to renal stones. In addition to its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and other activities, rosmarinic acid has also been discovered to reduce tubular dilatation, Bowman’s capsule enlargement, degradation of the tubular epithelium, and localized glomerular necrosis in a kidney ischemia model [ 7 , 11 ]. Based on these considerations, we propose a kidney stone model treated with rosmarinic acid to elucidate its impact on normotensive (NTRs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).…”

Molecular Mechanism of Phytochemicals for the Treatment of Urolithiasis

“…However, the formation of kidney stones can be avoided by numerous bioactive substances present in plants (phytochemicals), including polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, polysaccharides, and fatty acids. These natural resources do, in fact, consist of a wide range of bioactive compounds, all of which have been proven to exhibit potent anti-nephrolithiasis activities by altering the ion composition of urine to decrease calcium ion concentrations or increase citrate and magnesium excretion (1,3). The aim of this review is to understand the causes of kidney stone, identify the phytochemicals for antiurolithiasis effects and mechanism of phytochemicals.…”