Medicinal plants and functional foods with diuretic effects: A nutraceutical approach to cardiovascular health

Fluid and electrolyte balance is essential for cardiovascular homeostasis, and disturbances in renal sodium and water handling contribute to hypertension, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Although pharmacological diuretics remain a cornerstone of therapy, their long-term use may be limited by electrolyte disturbances, neurohormonal activation, and reduced tolerability in frail or polymedicated patients. This narrative review examines current experimental and clinical evidence on medicinal plants and functional foods with mild diuretic or renal-vascular effects, highlighting their potential role as adjunctive strategies. Several botanicals, including Hibiscus sabdariffa, Orthosiphon stamineus, Urtica dioica, and Taraxacum officinale, exhibit natriuretic, aquaretic, antioxidant, and vasorelaxant properties through multifactorial mechanisms. However, clinical evidence remains limited, heterogeneous, and frequently derived from multicomponent formulations, hindering the attribution of specific effects. In addition, dietary sources such as potassium-rich foods, herbal infusions, and whole grains may modulate fluid balance and vascular function. Still, their interaction with standard diuretic therapy warrants careful consideration. Potential nutrient-drug interactions may result in either synergistic effects or adverse outcomes, including hyperkalaemia, dehydration, or altered drug absorption. Overall, selected medicinal plants and functional foods may provide supportive benefits in early-stage cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. Still, their clinical use should remain adjunctive and individualized, pending further standardized, well-designed clinical trials.