URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS: A REVIEW ON THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF THE MAIN MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (ITU) are characterized as the body’s response to bacterial invasion and multiplication. Treatment through alternative therapies, including medicinal plants, is effective in preventing pathologies. Thus, the present study aimed to review the main medicinal plants used for the treatment of UTIs. The search was carried out using PubMed, Scielo, Medline, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. Articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included  mong official documents published in the past 12 years. It is suggested that the phytochemical constituents present in some species act by modulating oxidative stress and may prevent the fixation and proliferation of microorganisms. There are many studies on the potential of  medicinal plants in UTIs, but further research is needed to establish doses, form, and time of use, in addition to their respective mechanisms of action.