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Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Open Access to Pharmaceutical and Medical Research

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Open Access Full Text Article   Review Article

Medicinal Plants in the Management of Urolithiasis: Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Evidence

Dr. Pooja Bagdi  

Trinity Educational Institute, Ramgarh, Jharkhand, India

Article Info:

_______________________________________________ Article History:

Received 13 Feb 2026  

Reviewed 24 March 2026  

Accepted 17 April 2026  

Published 15 May 2026  

_______________________________________________

Cite this article as:

Bagdi P. Medicinal Plants in the Management of Urolithiasis: Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Evidence. Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 2026; 16(5):139-144  DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i5.7715                                                    _______________________________________________

For Correspondence:  

Dr. Pooja Bagdi Trinity Educational Institute, Ramgarh, Jharkhand, India

 

  

 

Abstract

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Objective: To systematically review the role of medicinal plants in the management of urolithiasis, with a focus on their phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and underlying mechanisms of action.

Data Sources: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect for relevant studies published on medicinal plants and urolithiasis.

Study Selection: Relevant preclinical, clinical, and review studies published in English were selected based on their relevance to antiurolithiatic activity, phytochemistry, and mechanisms of action. Studies lacking scientific validation or insufficient data were excluded.

Summary of Content: Urolithiasis is a recurrent disorder characterized by the formation of urinary calculi due to supersaturation of lithogenic substances. Medicinal plants such as Phyllanthus niruri, Tribulus terrestris, and Bergenia ligulata have demonstrated significant anti-urolithiatic activity. These plants contain bioactive phytoconstituents including flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds, which contribute to their therapeutic effects. The mechanisms involved include inhibition of crystal nucleation, growth and aggregation, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, diuretic effects, and modulation of urinary biochemical parameters. Experimental and limited clinical studies have reported promising outcomes in reducing stone formation and promoting stone expulsion.

Conclusion: Medicinal plants offer a promising complementary approach for the management of urolithiasis. However, further well-designed clinical trials and standardization of herbal formulations are required to establish their safety, efficacy, and clinical applicability.

Keywords: Urolithiasis, medicinal plants, antiurolithiatic activity, phytochemistry, kidney stones

 


 

Introduction

Urolithiasis is a multifactorial disorder affecting approximately 10–12% of the global population, with a high rate of recurrence¹². It is characterized by the formation of calculi in the kidneys or urinary tract due to supersaturation of urine with stone-forming constituents³. Among various types, calcium oxalate stones are the most common, accounting for nearly 70–80% of cases⁴. Conventional management approaches, including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, surgical interventions, and pharmacotherapy, provide symptomatic relief but often fail to prevent recurrence⁵⁶. This limitation has led to increased interest in medicinal plants, which have been traditionally used for the management of urolithiasis in systems such as Ayurveda and Unani medicine⁷⁸.

 

 

 

 

Objective

The objective of this review is to evaluate the role of medicinal plants in the management of urolithiasis with emphasis on their phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and mechanisms of action.

Data Sources

Data for this review were collected from electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.

Study Selection

Relevant preclinical, clinical, and review articles published in English were selected based on their relevance to antiurolithiatic activity, phytochemistry, and mechanisms of action.

 

 

Pathophysiology of Urolithiasis

Stone formation is a complex process involving urinary supersaturation, nucleation, crystal growth, aggregation,  

and retention within renal tubules⁹. Factors such as hyperoxaluria, hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia, and reduced urine volume significantly contribute to lithogenesis¹⁰,¹¹. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in renal epithelial injury, promoting crystal adhesion and retention¹². Inflammatory mediators further exacerbate tissue damage, facilitating stone formation¹


 

 

image

Figure 1.1 Diagrammatic representation of Pathophysiology of Urolithiasis


 

Traditional and Ethnobotanical Perspective

Urolithiasis has been extensively described in traditional Indian systems of medicine, particularly Ayurveda, where it is referred to as Ashmari⁷³,⁷⁴. Classical texts such as Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita document the use of plant-based formulations for the dissolution and expulsion of urinary calculi. Medicinal plants such as Bergenia ligulata, Tribulus terrestris, Aerva lanata, Phyllanthus niruri, and Crataeva nurvala have been widely used for their diuretic and litholytic properties⁷⁵⁻⁷⁷. In Unani medicine, herbal drugs with stone-dissolving and diuretic actions are commonly prescribed⁷⁸. Ethnobotanical studies also report the continued use of herbal preparations for kidney stone management across various regions of India⁷⁹,⁸⁰.

Phytochemistry of Antiurolithiatic Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants exhibit antiurolithiatic effects due to the presence of diverse bioactive phytochemicals. Flavonoids and polyphenols possess strong antioxidant properties that protect renal epithelial cells from oxidative damage¹⁴,¹⁵. Saponins inhibit crystal aggregation by altering surface tension and crystal morphology¹⁶. Alkaloids and terpenoids exhibit diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects, aiding in stone expulsion¹⁷,¹⁸. Tannins and phenolic compounds interfere with calcium oxalate crystallization and reduce renal injury¹⁹.

Mechanisms of Antiurolithiatic Action

Medicinal plants act through multiple mechanisms to prevent and treat urolithiasis. They inhibit crystal nucleation, growth, and aggregation, thereby preventing stone formation²⁰²¹. Antioxidant activity reduces oxidative stress-induced renal damage²²,²³. Diuretic effects increase urine output, decreasing supersaturation of lithogenic substances²⁴. Additionally, herbal agents modulate urinary biochemical parameters such as calcium, oxalate, phosphate, and citrate levels²⁵,²⁶.

Important Medicinal Plants in Urolithiasis

Several medicinal plants have demonstrated significant antiurolithiatic activity. Phyllanthus niruri inhibits calcium oxalate crystal growth and promotes stone expulsion²⁷,²⁸. Aerva lanata reduces urinary calcium and oxalate levels and prevents crystal deposition²⁹. Tribulus terrestris exhibits diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties³⁰. Other plants such as Dolichos biflorus, Bergenia ligulata, and Hibiscus sabdariffa have shown promising results in experimental models³¹⁻³³.


 

 

Table 1: Selected medicinal plants with reported anti-urolithiatic activity

 S. No.

Medicinal plant

Family

Part used

Reported activity

Proposed mechanism

Ref.
  1.  

Tribulus terrestris

Zygophyllaceae

Fruits

Prevents CaOx stone formation

Inhibits crystal nucleation & aggregation

[51,52]
  1.  

Bergenia ligulata

Saxifragaceae

Rhizome

Lithotriptic activity

Calcium chelation, diuretic effect

[53,54]
  1.  

Aerva lanata

Amaranthaceae

Whole plant

Reduces stone recurrence

Diuretic, antioxidant

[55,56]
  1.  

Crataeva nurvala

Capparaceae

Bark

Anti-nephrolithiatic

Reduces urinary oxalate

[57,58]
  1.  

Phyllanthus niruri

Euphorbiaceae

Whole plant

Inhibits stone growth

Modulates crystallization

[59,60]
  1.  

Hygrophila spinosa

Acanthaceae

Seeds

Reduces renal calculi

Diuretic, anti-inflammatory

[61]
  1.  

Rotula aquatica

Boraginaceae

Roots

Litholytic activity

Dissolution of CaOx stones

[62,63]
  1.  

Dolichos biflorus

Fabaceae

Seeds

Prevents stone formation

Antioxidant, nephroprotective

[64]
  1.  

Asparagus racemosus

Asparagaceae

Roots

Anti-urolithiatic

Diuretic

renal protection

[65]
  1.  

Cynodon dactylon

Poaceae

Whole plant

Reduces stone size

Inhibits aggregation

[66]
  1.  

Boerhaavia diffusa

Nyctaginaceae

Roots

Nephroprotective

Antioxidant, diuretic

[67,68]
  1.  

Terminalia chebula

Combretaceae

Fruits

Prevents nephrolithiasis

Free-radical scavenging

[69]
  1.  

Moringa oleifera

Moringaceae

Leaves

Anti-urolithiatic

Regulates urinary electrolytes

[70]
  1.  

Cissus quadrangularis

Vitaceae

Stem

Stone prevention

Inhibits crystal growth

[21]
  1.  

Solanum nigrum

Solanaceae

Whole plant

Reduces CaOx deposition

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

[72]

 

 

 


 

Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Experimental studies using ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis models have demonstrated the protective effects of plant extracts against renal stone formation³⁴⁻³⁶. Clinical studies evaluating herbal formulations have reported reduction in stone size, improvement in urinary parameters, and increased stone expulsion rates with minimal adverse effects³⁷⁻⁴⁰. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are still limited.

Limitations and Challenges of Herbal Therapies

Despite promising results, several challenges limit the widespread clinical application of medicinal plants. Variability in phytochemical composition due to geographical and environmental factors leads to inconsistent pharmacological outcomes⁸¹. Lack of standardized formulations and insufficient clinical trials further restrict their acceptance⁷⁷. Additionally, herb–drug interactions and limited safety data raise concerns regarding their concurrent use with conventional therapies⁸². Regulatory issues, lack of quality control, and absence of validated biomarkers further pose significant challenges⁸³.

Future Perspectives

Future research should focus on the isolation and characterization of active phytoconstituents responsible for antiurolithiatic activity. Advanced molecular and pharmacological approaches may help elucidate precise mechanisms involved in crystal inhibition and renal protection⁸⁴. Standardization of herbal formulations, along with dose optimization and toxicity evaluation, is essential to ensure safety and efficacy⁸⁵. Moreover, well-designed multicentric clinical trials are required to validate traditional claims and establish evidence-based therapies⁸⁶,⁸⁷.

Conclusions

Medicinal plants offer a promising complementary approach for the management of urolithiasis due to their multitarget mechanisms of action. Phytochemical-rich extracts inhibit stone formation, protect renal tissue, and improve urinary parameters. Integration of herbal therapies with conventional treatment may provide a safer and more effective strategy for long-term management of urolithiasis⁴⁶⁻⁵⁰.

Authors’ Contribution: P. Bagdi designed the study, performed experiments, analysed data, and wrote the manuscript.

Acknowledgement: The author acknowledges Mohanlal Sukhadia University and B.N. College of Pharmacy, Udaipur, for providing laboratory facilities.

Funding: No external funding was received for this study

Conflict of Interest: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

Author Contribution (CRediT Statement): Dr. Pooja Bagdi: Conceptualization, Literature review, Data collection, Writing – original draft preparation, Writing – review and editing.

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