Potential nephroprotective phytochemicals: Mechanism and future prospects.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Ethnobotany
• Nephrology

Background:

• Kidney disease (KD) presents a significant global health and economic challenge.
• Current KD treatments often have severe side effects and poor patient adherence.
• Phytoconstituents offer a promising avenue for nephroprotection (NP) with potential for improved safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the global burden of KD.
• To evaluate phytoconstituents as NP agents, detailing their mechanisms (in vitro and in vivo).
• To assess the clinical efficacy of these agents in managing KD and related disorders.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, etc.) until February 2021.
• Screening of over 24,000 articles focused on phytoconstituents and kidney disorders.
• Inclusion of 236 high-quality studies detailing nephroprotective mechanisms, plant sources, and clinical data.

Main Results:

• Identified numerous phytoconstituents with demonstrated nephroprotective potential.
• Documented diverse biological sources and multiple mechanisms of action for these compounds.
• Compiled research-based evidence on their efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• Pre-clinical and clinical data support the use of NP phytoconstituents for KD management.
• Further clinical studies are needed to enhance understanding of their pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
• More specific evaluations of natural sources are required for optimized therapeutic development.