Modern approaches to phytotherapy in uric acid nephrolithiasis

The article discusses pathogenetic and clinical aspects of phytotherapy in patients with urolithiasis. Phytotherapy plays an important role in the treatment and metaphylaxis of uric acid nephrolithiasis. This is attributed to its efficacy and safety, including during long-term use. The article examines currently available herbal formulations with proven clinical efficacy. Herbal formulations used in patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis typically include components such as extracts of Java tea leaves (Orthosiphon stamineus), Alpinia officinarum, field horsetail, and the roots and rhizomes of Levisticum officinale. These plants are well known for their beneficial properties and have long been used in traditional medicine. The active ingredients of these herbal formulations, such as saponins, flavonoids, terpenes, fatty acids, phenolic glycosides, caffeic acid metabolites (rosmarinic and lithospermic acids), tannins, and vitamins (notably, ascorbic acid is present in all the products mentioned), have a significant impact on their therapeutic effect. The herbal formulations exhibit diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antispasmodic properties. The development of new, effective herbal formulations for the treatment of uric acid nephrolithiasis, as well as the study of their therapeutic mechanisms, remain highly relevant in modern urology.