Antiurolithiatic plants: Multidimensional pharmacology

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a common problem afflicted for many centuries with high recurrence. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive information about traditionally used antiurolithiatic plants and their scientifically proved pharmacological activities like analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, astringent, demulcent, diuretic, litholytic, lithotriptic, antiurolithiatic, antispasmodic, ACE inhibition and Phospholipase A2 inhibition as a plausible mechanism of action. A total of 503 species, 365 genera and 119 families were cited for treating kidney stones. The most cited families are Asteraceae (41), Fabaceae (34), Lamiaceae (26), Apiaceae (21), Rosaceae (19) and Poaceae (16). The most common used plant parts are root and rhizome (25%), mode of preparation decoction (62%) and route of administration is oral in all cases. This review will provide the opportunities for the future research and development of new natural antiurolithiatic compounds.