Harnessing the power of flavonoids: A natural remedy for urolithiasis

Urolithiasis ranks as the third most prevalent kidney disease, affecting 12-15% of the global population. It has a recurrence rate of 70-81% in males and 47-60% in females. Kidney stone disorder is a complex condition that progresses through several stages, including supersaturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation, and retention within the kidneys. This condition can lead to significant medical issues, such as infections, urinary tract obstruction, and severe pain. Most kidney stones primarily consist of calcium oxalate. While treatments such as surgery, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and open or laparoscopic stone removal are available, they are often unpleasant and costly. Herbal remedies continue to be employed for the treatment and prevention of kidney stones. Recent studies have demonstrated that plant flavonoids exhibit significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, diuretic, antibacterial, and other beneficial effects against kidney stone formation, both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, flavonoids or plant extracts rich in flavonoids associated with anti-urolithiasis activity have been evaluated. This article emphasizes the use of plants as a remedy for kidney stones. It reviews the types of kidney stones, the pathophysiology of stone formation, the role of natural diet in kidney stone development, and the role of flavonoids in managing urolithiasis.