2025, Vol. 13, Issue 3, Part E

author(s)
Gochade Mukta Nivrutti, Amol Chandekar and Atul Tripathi

abstract
Diuretics are substances that enhance the excretion of water and electrolytes through the kidneys and are essential in managing conditions such as hypertension, edema, and heart failure. Although synthetic diuretics are effective, their prolonged use is often linked with adverse effects like electrolyte imbalance and renal toxicity. This has increased interest in medicinal plants as safer, cost-effective alternatives rooted in traditional medicine systems. This review highlights 30 medicinal plants with reported diuretic activity, detailing their botanical identity, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical content, experimental design, dosage, and pharmacological findings. The diuretic potential of these plants is primarily due to the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, saponins, and triterpenoids that modulate renal ion transport. The mechanisms of herbal diuretics are also compared with conventional drugs, underlining both shared and unique actions. The review underscores the importance of further scientific validation to support the standardized, safe use of herbal diuretics in clinical settings.