Evidence mapPaperPMID 40864745Full record

ReviewCurrent issues in molecular biology2025

Plant Extracts and Natural Compounds for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Women: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Therapeutic Potential.

Ya-Ting Hsu, Hsien-Chang Wu, Chung-Che Tsai, Yao-Chou Tsai, Chan-Yen Kuo

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current issues in molecular biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Molecular Pharmacology at the Crossroads of Precision Medicine.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ya-Ting HsuSchool of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0003-4439-8455
Hsien-Chang WuSchool of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-2374-0955
Chung-Che TsaiDepartment of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan.ORCID 0009-0001-9645-0609
Yao-Chou TsaiDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Taipei Tzuchi Hospital, The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 23142, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-2833-5609
Chan-Yen KuoInstitute of Oral Medicine and Materials, College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970374, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-5702-5730

Funding

Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation TCRD-TPE-113-05, TCRD-TPE-113-42, CRD-TPE-113-44, and TCRD-TPE-114-RT-4(1/3)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent bacterial infections in women, with high recurrence rates and growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance. The need for alternative or adjunctive therapies has spurred interest in plant-based treatments, which offer antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory benefits. This review summarizes the mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and therapeutic potential of various medicinal plants and natural compounds for preventing and treating UTIs in women. Notable candidates include cranberry, bearberry, pomegranate, green tea, and other phytochemicals with proven anti-adhesive and biofilm-disrupting properties. Evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses supports the role of cranberry natural products and traditional herbal medicines (THMs) in reducing UTI recurrence, especially when combined with antibiotics. Notably, A-type proanthocyanidins in cranberry and arbutin in bearberry are key bioactive compounds that exhibit potent anti-adhesive and biofilm-disrupting properties, offering promising adjunctive strategies for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections. Additionally, emerging therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), show promise in restoring bladder function and reducing infection in women with lower urinary tract dysfunction. Overall, plant-based strategies represent a valuable and well-tolerated complement to conventional therapies and warrant further investigation through high-quality clinical trials to validate their efficacy, safety, and role in personalized UTI management.

Indexed as

lower urinary tract dysfunctionmedicinal plantsnatural compoundsrecurrent urinary tract infectionurinary tract infection

Identifiers

PMID40864745
PMCPMC12384774

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.