Review Article Volume 16 Issue 6 - 2025

Traditional Medicinal Plants for Kidney Disease

Mohammed Sayed Aly Mohammed*

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Researches Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Researches Institute National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

*Corresponding Author: Mohammed Sayed Aly Mohammed, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Researches Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Researches Institute National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
Received: September 18, 2025; Published: October 17, 2025



Increased use of complementary and alternative herbal medicines in the treatment of various diseases. Kidney stones are the third most common urinary tract problem after urinary tract infections and prostate pathology. Kidney stones may cause extreme pain and blockage of urine flow. They usually treated with medications that may cause several side effects. Medicinal herbs used in different cultures as a reliable source of natural remedies.

Kidney disease is one of the most common health problems, and kidney failure can be fatal. It is one of the health disorders associated with extreme pain and discomfort in patients. In developing countries, such as Egypt, where socioeconomic and sanitary conditions are precarious, medicinal plants considered the primary source of medication.

 Kidney stone disease (KSD) considered a serious medical problem. Despite recent management methods for kidney stones, several undesired consequences remain. Thus, recent literature highlights the great need for natural compounds for safe, effective, and affordable management of KSD. In this study, the article review aims to clarify the effect of traditional medicinal plants on kidney diseases.

 Keywords: Medicinal Plants; Medical Problem; Kidney Stones; Natural Remedy

  1. Khan SR and Thamilselvan S. “Nephrolithiasis: a consequence of renal epithelial cell exposure to oxalate and calcium oxalate crystals”. Molecular Urology 4 (2000): 305-312.
  2. Sarrafchi A., et al. “Oxidative stress and Parkinson’s disease: New hopes in treatment with herbal antioxidants”. Current Pharmaceutical Design 2 (2016): 238-246.
  3. Kennedy J. “Herb and supplement use in the US adult population”. Clinical Therapeutics 11 (2005): 1847-1858.
  4. Khosravi-Boroujeni H., et al. “Potato consumption and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Iranian population”. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 8 (2012): 913-920.
  5. Mohsenzadeh A., et al. “A review of the most important medicinal plants effective on cough in children and adults”. Der Pharmacia Lettre 8 (2016): 90-96.
  6. Saki K., et al. “The effect of most important medicinal plants on two important psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression)-a review”. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 7S1 (2014): 34-42.
  7. Asadbeigi M., et al. “Traditional effects of medicinal plants in the treatment of respiratory diseases and disorders: an ethnobotanical study in the Urmia”. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 7S1 (2014): S364-S368.
  8. Gupta A and Chaphalkar SR. “Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of some flavonoids from medicinal plants”. Journal of Herbmed Pharmacology 3 (2016): 120-124.
  9. Prakash D., et al. “Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of phenols from onion (Allium cepa)”. Food Chemistry4 (2007): 1389-1393.
  10. Golubev FV., et al. “Mineral composition of wild onions and their nutritional value”. Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology 5 (2003): 532-535.
  11. Olayeriju O., et al “Flavanoid rich competitive inhibitor of key enzyme (Angiotensin converting enzyme) liked hypertension”. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research 8 (2017): 2229-5518.
  12. Ahmed S., et al. “The mechanistic insight of polyphenols in calcium oxalate urolithiasis mitigation”. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 106 (2018): 1292-1299.
  13. Gunaydin K and Beyazit N. “The chemical investigations on the ripe fruits of Ammi visnaga (LAM.) Lamarck growing in Turkey”. Natural Product Research2 (2004): 169-175.
  14. Vanachayangkul P., et al. “An aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga fruits and its constituents khellin and visnagin prevent cell damage caused by oxalate in renal epithelial cells”. Phytomedicine8-9 (2010): 653-658.
  15. Gerstenbluth RE and Resnick MI. “Medical management of calcium oxalate urolithiasis”. Medical Clinics of North America2 (2004): 431-442.
  16. Sayed MD. “Traditional medicine in health care”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1 (1980): 19-22.
  17. Jaradat NA Zaid., et al. “Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants practiced by traditional healers and herbalists for treatment of some urological diseases in the West Bank/Palestine”. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 1 (2017): 255.
  18. Khan ZA., et al. “Inhibition of oxalate nephrolithiasis with Ammi visnaga (AI-Khillah)”. International Urology and Nephrology 4 (2002): 605-608.
  19. Nirumand MC., et al. “Dietary plants for the prevention and management of kidney stones: preclinical and clinical evidence and molecular mechanisms”. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 3 (2018): 765.
  20. EI Markarova., et al. “Apium graveolens: a phytochemical and pharmacological review”. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 15 (2022): 927-934.
  21. Akbar S. Handbook of 200 medicinal plants: a comprehensive review of their traditional medical uses and scientific justifications (2020).
  22. Fazal SS., et al. “Isolation of 3-n-butyl phthalide & sedanenolide from Apium graveolens Linn”. Indo Global Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 3 (2012): 258-261.
  23. Kooti W and Daraei N. “A review of the antioxidant activity of celery (Apium graveolens L)”. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine4 (2017): 1029-1034.
  24. Naushad M., et al. “Nephroprotective effect of tukhme karafs (Apium graveolens) against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in experimental animals”. Indian Drugs 57.7 (2020): 63-69.
  25. Naushad M., et al. “Nephroprotective effect of Apium graveolens against Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity”. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 12.4 (2021): 607-615.
  26. Bahmani M., et al. “Identification of medicinal plants for the treatment of kidney and urinary stones”. Journal of Renal Injury Prevention 3 (2016): 129-133.
  27. Mandal S and Mandal M. “Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) essential oil: chemistry and biological activity”. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 5.6 (2015): 421-428.
  28. Farsani MN., et al. “Dietary effects of Coriandrum sativum extract on growth performance, physiological and innate immune responses and resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) against Yersinia ruckeri”. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 91 (2019): 233-240.
  29. Abderahm A., et al. “Acute diuretic effect of continuous intravenous infusion of an aqueous extract of Coriandrum sativum in anesthetized rats”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 115.1 (2008): 89-95.
  30. Azhar I., et al. “Spices as Medicine”. Research Institute of Indusyunic Medicine (2003).
  31. Hashim GM., et al. “Biological activity of Cymbopogon schoenanthus essential oil”. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 7 (2017): 1458-1464.
  32. Mohamed S., et al. “Protective effect of Cymbopogon schoenanthus extract against formalin hazard in rats”. Research Journal of Medicinal Plant 11 (2017): 8-13.
  33. Haredy SA., et al. “Combination of Ficus carica leaves extract and ubiquinone in a chronic model of lithium induce reproductive toxicity in rats: Hindrance of oxidative stress and apoptotic marker of sperm cell degradation”. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences 2 (2017): 64-73.
  34. Al Haznawi AM., et al. “Inhibition of calcium oxalate nephrotoxicity with Cymbopogon schoenanthus (Al- Ethkher)”. Jazan Jazan Universi (2007).
  35. Al-Ghamdi SS., et al. “Inhibition of calcium oxalate nephrotoxicity with Cymbopogon schoenanthus (Al-Ethkher)”. Drug Metabolism Letters 4 (2007): 241-244.
  36. Al-Snafi A. “The chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Cymbopagon schoenanthus: A review”. Chemistry Research Journal 1 (2016): 53-61.
  37. Al-Burtamani S., et al. “Chemical composition, antibacterial and antifungal activities of the essential oil of Haplophyllum tuberculatum from Oman”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1-2 (2005): 107-112.
  38. Al-Ghamdi SS., et al. “Inhibition of calcium oxalate nephrotoxicity with Cymbopogon schoenanthus (Al-Ethkher)”. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1 (2007): 241-244.
  39. Eltahir AS and AbuEReish BI. “Comparative foliar epidermal studies in Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon schoenanthus in Sudan”. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 4 (2010): 449-455.
  40. Calvo MI and, Cavero RY. “Medicinal plants used for cardiovascular diseases in Navarra and their validation from Official sources”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 157 (2014): 268-273.
  41. Olsen S. “Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns”. 1st. Portland, OR, USA: Timber Press (2007).
  42. Tsioutsiou EE., et al. “Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Central Macedonia, Greece”. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2019): 4513792.
  43. Nunes R., et al. “Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties and zinc content of five south Portugal herbs”. Pharmaceutical Biology1 (2017): 114-123.
  44. Carneiro DM., et al. “Randomized, double-blind clinical trial to assess the acute diuretic effect of equisetum arvense (field horsetail) in healthy volunteers”. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2014): 760683.
  45. , et al. “Phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Equisetum (Equisetaceae): a narrative review of the species with therapeutic potential for kidney diseases”. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2021): 6658434.
  46. Muckensturm B., et al. “Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic studies of Foeniculum vulgare”. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology4 (1997): 353-358.
  47. Caceres A., et al. “Diuretic activity of plants used for the treatment of urinary ailments in Guatemala”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology3 (1987): 233-245.
  48. Tanira MO., et al. “Pharmacological and toxicological investigations on Foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals”. Phytotherapy Research1 (1996): 33-36.
  49. Atmani F and Khan SR. “Effect of an extract from Herniaria hirsuta on calcium oxalate crystallization in vitro”. BJU International 6 (2000): 621-625.
  50. Meddour A., et al. “Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in western Algeria”. South African Journal of Botany 117 (2018): 260-270.
  51. Crescenti A., et al. “Antiurolithiasic effect of a plant mixture of Herniaria glabra, Agropyron repens, Equisetum arvense, and Sambucus nigra in patients with urolithiasis”. Journal of Herbal Medicine 5 (2015): 145-152.
  52. Sadki C and Atmani F. “Evaluation de l’effet antilithiasique, oxalocalcique et phospho-ammoniaco-magnésien d’extrait aqueux d’Erica multiflora L”. Progrèse En Urologie16 (2017): 1058-1067.
  53. Atmani F., et al. “Prophylaxis of calcium oxalate stones by Herniaria hirsuta on experimentally induced nephrolithiasis in rats”. BJU International1 (2003): 137-140.
  54. Aćimović MG and Milić NB. “Perspectives of the Apiaceae Hepatoprotective Effects-A Review”. Natural Product Communications 2 (2017): 309-317.
  55. Waheeba EA., et al. “Antioxidant activities of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) on the induced biochemical and histopathological changes of potassium bromate-fed rats”. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (2020): 80-85.
  56. Emad AM., et al. “Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Apium graveolens extracts mitigate against fatal acetaminophen-induced acute liver toxicity”. Journal of Food Biochemistry 44.10 (2020): e13399.
  57. Khalil NSA., et al. “Antidiabetic and antioxidant impacts of desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) and parsley (Petroselinum sativum) aqueous extracts: lessons from experimental rats”. Journal of Diabetes Research (2016): 8408326.
  58. Bolkent S., et al. “Effects of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) on the liver of diabetic rats: A morphological and biochemical study”. Phytotherapy Research 12 (2004): 996-999.
  59. Ertaş B., et al. “Protective effects of Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) extract against methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity”. European Journal of Biology 2 (2019): 173-178.
  60. Punoševac M., et al. “A review of botanical characteristics, chemical composition, pharmacological activity and use of parsley”. Arhiv za Farmaciju 3 (2021): 177-196.
  61. Zhang H., et al. “Evaluation of antioxidant activity of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) essential oil and identification of its antioxidant constituents”. Food Research International 8 (2006): 833-839.
  62. Eddouks M., et al. “Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiac diseases in the south-east region of Morocco (Tafilalet)”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2-3 (2002): 97-103.
  63. Jouad H., et al. “Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases in the North centre region of Morocco (Fez-Boulemane)”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2-3 (2001): 175-182.
  64. Darias V., et al. “Plants used in urinary pathologies in the Canary island”. Pharmaceutical Biology 3 (2001): 170-180.
  65. Zhu J., et al. “Effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on type 2 diabetes mellitus and components of the metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials”. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018): 5692962.
  66. Imani H., et al. “Effects of ginger on serum glucose, advanced glycation end products, and inflammation inperitoneal dialysis patients”. Nutrition5 (2015): 703-707.
  67. Shirpoor A., et al. “Ginger extract protects rat’s kidneys against oxidative damage after chronic ethanol administration”. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 84 (2016): 698-704.
  68. Eugenio-Pérez D., et al. “Role of dietary antioxidant agents in chronic kidney disease”. In free radicals and diseases. InTech: Singapore (2016).
  69. Saafi-Ben Salah EB., et al. “Antioxidant-rich date palm fruit extract inhibits oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity induced by dimethoate in rat”. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry 1 (2012): 47-58.
  70. Iheka CU., et al. “Impact of fluoride toxicity and ameliorative effects of some antioxidants on selected biochemical indices of male rats”. AASCIT Journal of Health 2 (2015): 87-92.

Mohammed Sayed Aly Mohammed. “Traditional Medicinal Plants for Kidney Disease”. EC Orthopaedics  16.6 (2025): 01-09.