Herbal antilithiatic biomolecules

Abstract Herbal medicines have been in use since ancient times for the management of many complex diseases. The efficacy of herbal extracts depends largely on the biological actions of individual active principles at molecular levels. In recent times, investigative studies have been taken up to validate the safety and clinical efficacy of individual herbal biomolecules including their mechanism of action in the management of different health problems, including kidney stones. Renal stone formation is one of the oldest known diseases and referred to as nephrolithiasis. When the stone moves out of the pelvis and progresses toward the rest of the urinary system—such as ureter, bladder, and urethra—it gives rise to a condition called urolithiasis. In this chapter, we discuss various pharmacological effects of important antilithiatic biomolecules: lupeol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), quercetin, thymoquinone, and bergenin—that might be helpful in the management of kidney stones. We have also attempted to provide their molecular mechanism of action, to have a better understanding of how these antilithiatic biomolecules exert their effects. Their supplementation has the potential to reduce the size and number of renal calculi and may pose as less toxic and low-cost yet efficient alternatives. By combining these biomolecules with standard medical treatment and lifestyle modification, the clinician may be able to maximize the chances of restoring the normal function of kidneys. We have summarized the outcomes of already published reports on lupeol, EGCG, quercetin, thymoquinone, and bergenin, although we have not carried out any kind of dose–response relationship or toxicological study. Thus more clinical intervention trials are required to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of the biomolecules. Carefully designed dose–response human studies might be able to incorporate these biomolecules as potential alternatives in the clinical management of renal stones.