Medicinal effects of Phyllanthus niruri (stone-breaker tea) extract: evidence synthesis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37497/JMRReview.v1i1.23Keywords:
Urology, Nephrology, Kidney stones, Hepatitis, Phyllanthus niruriAbstract
Background: The genus Phyllanthus has been used in traditional medicine for its wide range of pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodic, antiviral, diuretic and hepatoprotective. Aim: To review the specialized literature on the medicinal effects of Phyllanthus niruri extract.
Method: The databases chosen for papers selection was PUBMED, LILACS and SCIELO, using the following search strategy: “Phyllanthus niruri”. Only clinical trials were considered and no time cut-off was established.
Results: We identified 10 papers that met the previously established inclusion criteria.
Conclusions: The therapeutic effects of Phyllanthus extracts, especially Phyllanthus niruri, are still controversial. While some authors suggest positive effects in the treatment of hepatitis B, there is still no consensus on the aforementioned positivity. As for the treatment of urolithiasis, it can be said that the popularly known “stone break tea” is not capable of breaking stones, but seems to reduce the excretion of substances that promote crystallization. The potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of extracts containing Phyllanthus niruri appear to reduce the rate of formation and contribute to the elimination of small stones or their fragments.
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