Abstract
Kidney stones are among the oldest and most widespread urinary tract ailments, impacting people all over the globe with a high recurrence rate. The mechanism of kidney stone formation includes events such as urine supersaturation, aggregation, retention, nucleation, and growth of crystals in the cells of the renal tubular epithelium. Kidney stones may cause extreme pain and blockage of urine flow. They are usually treated with synthetic drugs and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as well as a variety of medications that may cause several adverse effects. The remaining stone fragments and the risk of infection following ESWL are severe problems in the treatment of kidney stones. Recently, despite the emergence of synthetic drugs, medicinal plants have been recognized and utilized in many nations due to their safety profile, efficiency, cultural acceptance, and fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. Medicinal plants are used in different cultures as a reliable source of natural remedies. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive information about traditionally used antiurolithiatic plants as well as their scientifically proven pharmacological activities, their primary chemical ingredients, and potential mechanisms of action, such as analgesic, astringent, demulcent, diuretic activity, antioxidant activity, inhibition of the inflammatory process, nucleation inhibition, crystallization inhibition, inhibition of crystal aggregation, reducing hyperoxaluria, reducing stone size, and reducing urine supersaturation .