This document summarizes plants that can be used for urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment. It discusses several categories of plants including botanical diuretics, urinary antiseptic and anti-adhesion herbs, and plants that relieve benign prostatic hyperplasia. For each category, it provides examples of plants, their active compounds, traditional uses, and results from studies. Key plants discussed include Solidago, Levisticum officinale, Urtica dioica, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus, Echinacea, Hydrastis canadensis, Agathosma betulina and Zea mays. The document emphasizes the need
2. Plant categories of UTI treatment
Botanical diuretics
Urinary anti-septic and anti-adhesion herbs
Botanicals with anti-nephrotoxic activity
Plants to relieve from benign prostatic hyperplast
(BPH)
Phyto-derivatives against Prostate cancer
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3. My Attitude
Researchers from different labs globally need to
work closely together, discuss problems frequently
and analyze the results instantly.
Herbal medicine research -
1. should be organized
2. consistent team work is absolutely vital.
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4. Data by WHO
% Use of herbal medicines
Africa …. 80
China …. 30 – 50
Europe N. America …. > 50
Germany …. 90
India …. 40 – 70
Global market for
herbal medicines …. > $ 60 bn / yr
….. And growing faster
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6. Solidago virgaurea L. : European goldenrod
Solidago canadensis : Canadian goldenrod
S. gigantea Aiton : Early goldenrod
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7. These contain saponins and tannins (Weiss 1985)
Multiple compounds contribute to actions
(Okpanyi et. al. 1989)
S. gigantea 60% ethanol extract on animal study
(Leuschher 1995)
S. virgaurea extracts practised to prevent
formation of kidney stones and to help in
removing urinary gravel (Blumenthal et. al. 1998)
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9. Levisticum officinale
Also called Lovage root
Family: Apiaceae
Good diuretic (Weiss 1985)
Major active principle: Terpenoids, Iso-valeric acid,
Angelic acid, Coumarins
Approved by the German Commission E for use in
lower UTI and urinary gravel. (Blumenthal et. al. 1998)
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11. Petroselinum crispus
Also called Parsley
The root / fruit is used as a Diuretic
Folk remedy since the ancient times (Yarnell 2002)
Active principles: Terpenoids, Apicol, Flavanoids,
Apigenin
This herb also shows carminative and calcium
channel – blocking activity in vitro (Neuhaus –
Charlisle et. al. 1993)
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13. Urtica dioica
Also called Stinging nettle
Parts – Leaves, Seeds
Used as – Mild diuretic, support for urinary tract
functions, internal anti-inflammatory and roots as
benign prostatic hyperplasia
Aqueous extract have diuretics and natriuretic
effects (Tahri et. al. 2000)
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17. Equisetum arvense
Also called Horsetail
Active principle: Silicic acid, Silicates
Astringent effect on the genito-urinary system
(Steenkamp 2003)
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39. Juniperus spp. fruit
Useful in digestive disorders, kidney and bladder
problems
Volatile oil contains > 100 compounds i.e. alpha
and beta pinene, myrecene, limonene, sabinene
and alcohol, terpinene-4-ol (Clark et. al. 1990)
Animal studies shows that extracts increase
urinary volume
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40. Juniperus spp. fruit
Additionally terpinen-4-ol acts as diuretic
Excessive doses of Juniper on animals show
kidney irritation (Schilcher and Leuschner 1997)
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42. Echinacea spp.
E. purpurea – immunostimulating property in
UTI (Kligler 2003)
Three sp. Effective – E. purpurea
E. angustifolia
E. pallida
Purple coneflower is native to North America
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44. Hydrastis canadensis
Also known as Goldenseal
Active principle in roots: Hydrastine, Berberine
Berberine: no side effects, compared with
antibiotics, it blocks adhesion of bacteria to
epithelial cells (Subbaiah and Amin 1967, Amin et.
al. 1969)
Anti-microbial activities against bacteria, fungi and
protozoa
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45. Hydrastis canadensis
Protective effect against several micro-organisms
including:
E. coli
Streptococcal bacteria
Chlamydia and Proteus sp.
Salmonella typi
Entamoeba histolytica
(Lahiri & Dutta 1967, Mahajan et. al. 1982, Sun et.
al. 1988 b)
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47. Agathosma betulina
Also known as Buchu
Used against UTI since the ancient times
Native to South Africa
Effective in treating cases of cystitis, nephritis,
catarrh of the bladder, urethritis
Active principle: Monoterpene disophenol
‘buchu’
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48. Agathosma betulina
In-vitro experiments show that flavonoids exhibit
anti-inflammatory effects
Today, a tincture is used in treatment of genital
and UTI such as kidney stones, prostatitis
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50. Zea mays
Also known as Cornsilk
Chemicals: saponins, tannins, alkaloid, hordenine,
sterols, stigmasterol, allantoin, polyphenols, Vitamin
K, B and C
It soothes and relaxes the lining of ureter, bladder
and urethra
Relieving irritation and improving urine excretion
(Steenkamp 2003)
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