Nephroprotective Potential of Herbal Medicines: A Review

Nephrotoxicity (from Greek: nephros, "kidney") is a poisonous effect of some substances, both toxic chemicals and medication, on the kidneys. There are various forms of toxicity. Nephrotoxicity should not be confused with the fact that some medications have a predominantly renal excretion and need their dose adjusted for the decreased renal function (e.g. heparin). A large number of medicinal plants, natural products and dietary components have been evaluated as potential nephroprotective agents. This article presents a review on some reported antidiabetic medicinal plants (with their botanical name, Family and part used).