Phytochemical Classification of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Kidney Disease Based on Traditional Persian Medicine

Abstract

Background and Objectives. Human beings have used natural products as one of the pharmaceutical sources to improve human health for thousands of years. Phytochemical constituents distributed in different parts of medicinal plants cause therapeutic effects on treatment of acute and chronic diseases. Over the years, traditional Persian medicine has become popular over Iran and some countries globally as a source of alternative therapies of kidney diseases and renal dysfunctions. Iranian herbal medicine consists of natural compounds with complex active ingredients that causes valuable effects. Despite performing research works on traditional Persian medicine in the treatment of kidney disorders, there is still a need to investigate on chemical components and biological molecules of medicinal plants. Methods. This review was focused on studying the various secondary metabolites in model plants of Iranian herbal medicine known as treatment of kidney diseases in traditional Persian medicine textbooks including Makhzan-ol-Advieh, The Canon of Medicine, and Taghvim al-Abdan fi Tadbir al-Ensan. Results. Secondary metabolites of 94 medical plants belonging to 42 families were reported with their scientific and family name. Conclusion. Although herbal medicines are gaining rapid popularity among people and the pharmaceutical industry, the understandings of the phytochemical and therapeutic properties of medicinal plant are important for developing effective nephroprotective medicines. Therefore, the relationship between traditional uses and biological properties should be clearly verified through further studies.