Abstract
The prevalence of kidney-related diseases has been increasing and has emerged globally as a leading cause of mortality, especially in developing countries where they are considered a neglected public health problem. Renal diseases are commonly progressive and may cause irreversible loss of organ function, eventually necessitating renal replacement therapy. Although different pharmaceuticals are considered for the treatment of these pathologies, the uncertain effectiveness and presence of adverse effects have generated a growing need for the development of novel nephroprotective compounds. Because many medicinal herbs are typically used in Brazilian folk medicine to prevent and cure kidney ailments, ethnomedicine may play a promising and strategic role in identifying and adding new potential molecules to the pharmacological arsenal. This review focuses on the use of plants and secondary metabolites belonging to different classes to treat renal diseases, associating the screened plant extracts with the bioactive components present in each species. Flavonoids and triterpenes are notable metabolites that have therapeutic potential. The putative pharmacological mechanisms related to nephroprotective properties are also discussed in in vitro and in vivo models, when available.