Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by iraqi herbalists in the management of Nephrolithiasis: A cross-Sectional survey conducted in Southern Iraq “Karbala.”

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most significant urinary tract diseases, with an enormous socio-economic impact. Numerous research studies have been conducted to assess the potential of herbal medicine in managing kidney stones; however, further study is required in Iraq. The objective was to document the ethno-botanical uses of medicinal plants in managing nephrolithiasis in southern Iraq and analyse the herbalists’ diagnostic method. A cross-sectional survey was performed through face-to-face interviews with 48 herbalists practicing in Karbala. The results indicated the use of 19 species from 10 botanical families. Zea mays, Trigonella foenum-graecum and Tribulus terrestris exhibited the highest frequency of mentions, accounting for 81.25%, 56.25%, and 52.0%, respectively. The botanical plant families Apiaceae and Fabaceae were predominantly utilized, accounting for usage rates of 31.5% and 15.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the data indicated that seeds were the most utilized plant parts, and decoction was the predominant preparation technique. Moreover, the data showed that although a significant proportion of herbalists possessed a high level of education, most of these herbalists (72.9%) relied on patient symptoms rather than physician diagnosis when identifying nephrolithiasis, irrespective of their experience or education level. Herbalists commonly suggest cures for nephrolithiasis without considering the specific type and location of the stone. This study concluded that medicinal plants are significant for future research endeavors to treat and manage nephrolithiasis.