Western herbal remedies for Urinary Tract infections

Abstract

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections, with a frequency of 50%-60% in mature females [1] Urinary tract infections could be uncomplicated or complicated. Uncomplicated UTIs affects individuals with no neurological or structural deformities in urinary tract. Uncomplicated UTIs could be separated into infection of lower UTIs (cystitis) and upper UTIs (Pyelonephritis) [2]. Underlying factor for cystitis are gender, former UTI infection, genetic susceptibility, vaginal infection, sexual activeness, overweight and diabetes [3], whereas uncomplicated UTIs arises from presence of factors debilitates host immune defenses including renal transplantation, renal failure, urine retention due to neurological disorders, immunosuppression, presence of foreign bodies with urinary tract like indwelling catheters [4]. In the United states, the indwelling catheters results in 70-80% of complicated UTIs [5] with a total of one million cases per year [6]. Etiology of UTIs includes Gram-negative , gram-positive and fungi. Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli (UPEC) is the most common bacterial of all types of UTIs. In the cases of Uncomplicated UTIs, UPEC is followed in frequency by K. pneumoniae, S. saprophyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. [7], whereas in complicated UTIs, UPEC is followed in frequency by Enterococcus spp., K. pneumoniae, Candida spp., S. aureus, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa and GBS [8]. The emergence and exacerbation of the bacterial drug resistance problem, beside other problems of antibiotic therapy as the adverse effects of hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity , ototoxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity; immunosuppression; eradication of benefi cial gut and mucosal surfaces fl ora and allergic reactions [9], made most of antibiotics worthless in treatment of many cases of UTIs and directed global attention towards fi nding new therapeutic alternatives. Herbal medicine is the most important alternative therapy for classical antibiotics. Scientifi c research on herbal medicine confi rmed the therapeutic activity of vast majority of medicinal plants known in traditional medicine of different areas worldwide for their activity in treatment microbial infections and different human diseases [10,11].

Effectiveness of Medicinal Plant Extract against Pathogenic Bacteria in the Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

“…16 A recurrent UTI (rUTI) is defined as two or more lower tract infections within 6 months or 3 or more infections within 12 months. 17 Although powerful antibiotics are available, resistant strains of microorganisms are constantly emerging, necessitating constant research and development of new drugs. For centuries, plants have gained attention worldwide as medicines and treatments for various ailments.…”