Urolithiasis (UL) is the presence of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract; its prevalence has increased worldwide. Thus, strategies have been sought to reduce it and one of them is the use of medicinal plants due to their accessibility, low cost, and cultural traditions. Studies on traditional medicinal plants in UL mainly documented results of litholytic and urinary parameters. Although, stone formation is related to oxidative stress and inflammation, and only a few studies are focused on these types of biomarkers. Thus, the aim of the present review was to summarize studies showing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants used in UL management. We performed a scoping review; the database sources used were MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, Scielo and Redalyc. From a total of 184 studies screened, six were included from China (2), India (3), and Corea (1). These studies have shown the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants, including Glechoma longituba (G. longituba), Bergenia ligulate (B. ligulate), Lygodium japonicum (L. japonicum), Citrus limon (C. limon), Xanthium strumarium (X. strumarium) and Tribulus terrestris (T. terrestris). They have also described their molecular mechanism of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the activation of antioxidant genes induced by Nrf2 or by suppressing the inflammatory gene expression by the inhibition of NFκ-B. These effects could be modulated by their bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenes, present in these plants. This review summarizes the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants and highlights their molecular mechanisms of action and main bioactive compounds. This evidence may be used in biotechnology and synthetic biology areas for the development of new products from plant-derived compounds to reduce the high recurrence rates of UL.

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by excessive triglyceride accumulation in the liver, the presence of one or more cardiometabolic risk factors, and an absence of harmful alcohol intake. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development and severity of this disease, contributing to an increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). Malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative biomarker resulting from lipid peroxidation, is closely associated with metabolic dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the role of MDA as a predictor of steatosis severity and CVR. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a population with MASLD with hepatic steatosis confirmed by ultrasonography and computed tomography. Subjects were classified according to severity of the hepatic steatosis as grade I or grade II-III. Nutritional, anthropometric, and serum biochemical parameters were measured. MDA levels were determined using a spectrophotometric method. The CVR was assessed using waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), triglycerides-glucose (TyG) index, lipid accumulation product (LAP), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify MDA cut-off value, followed by multivariable logistic regression to assess its association with severity of steatosis adjusted for body fat percentage. Results: A total of 50 patients were included (21 men and 29 women). An MDA cut-off value ≥ 0.13 nmol/mL was associated with higher severity (grade II–III vs. grade I) (OR = 5.0; 95% CI: 1.20–20.0; p = 0.022). Higher WHR values were found in subjects with grade I (p = 0.049), and elevated TyG index values were observed in patients with grade I-III (p = 0.042) both indicating increased CVR. Conclusions: Elevated MDA levels and higher body fat percentage were associated with higher degree of hepatic steatosis and increased CVR in the population from southeastern Mexico.

Krugiodendron ferreum (Vahl) Urb. (KF), commonly known as Ch’iin took’, is a species native to the Yucatan Mexico, whose phytochemical composition remains poorly characterized. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolomic profile, antioxidant capacity, and preliminary cellular activity of KF. An aqueous extract was obtained from KF bark (20 mg/mL). Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using ORAC and DPPH assays. Total phenolic content was evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The phenolic profile was determined by UPLC-PDA-MS, and preliminary cellular activity was evaluated by estimating cell number based on the quantification of DAPI-stained nuclei after 72 h of treatment with extract concentrations ranging from 3 to 3000 μg/mL. The extract showed an antioxidant capacity of 1765 ± 59.1 Trolox equivalents/mL and 85.9 ± 0.34% of DPPH radical scavenging activity. The total polyphenol content was 1163 ± 61.5 mg GAE/L, and its phenolic profile was mainly characterized by catechin 3-O-rhamnoside, taxifolin 3-O-rhamnoside, and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside. Cell activity analysis revealed that both the 3 and 300 μg/mL concentrations increased the number of cells and the area covered by them compared with the control group at 48 and 72 h. The 3000 μg/mL concentration showed no difference compared with the water control. Our results suggest that KF contains polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant properties without affecting cellular response.