Potential of pure phytoconstituents and herbs in protection of drug induced nephrotoxicity

Abstract

Global trend is setting towards improved ‘quality of life’, for that there is considerable evidence of an increase in demand for medicinal plants. According to the WHO report, between 65% and 80% of the populations of developing countries use medicinal plants as remedy nowadays. Kidney is one of the vital organs of body and Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common problems and it occurs as a result when body is exposed to a drug or toxin. This review article aims to report and to introduce the effect of most important medicinal herbs, herbal formulations and some of the specific phytoconstituents that are used to prevent and treat anticancer, aminoglycoside, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and few other classes of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Particularly anti-cancer drugs among all other classes of drugs, cause high toxicity leading kidney damage and irreparable kidney injury. So, attention has recently been paid to seek out alternatives such as natural drugs that are effective and also less toxic. According to the studies carried out on different animals and cell line, many medicinal plants, herbal formulations and a few plant-based constituents by their antioxidant, free-radical and anti-inflammatory properties are found to be helpful in preventing drug-induced nephrotoxicity.