Background and objective: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a medical condition characterized by an increase frequency and urgency, with or without urge incontinence. 80% of the world's population presently uses herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care according to a survey conducted by World Health Organization. The objective of present review was to present an updated, comprehensive and categorized information about medicinal plants used or with potential for the treatment of overactive bladder.
Methods: All relevant literature databases were searched up. The sources of data included Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science and PubMed. The search terms were plant, herb, herbal therapy, phytotherapy, overactive bladder, cystitis and urinary incontinence.
Results: Studies on a number of medicinal plants revealed that phytochemials extracted from different plant's part showed protective effect against increased contractile activity of urinary bladder and increased urination frequency, the characteristic manifestations of OAB. Medicinal plant extracts also reduced urinary oxidative stress markers,inflammation and agonist induced bladder contractile response.
Conclusion: A variety of medicinal plants promise their use in overactive bladder diseases. In addition to the standardization of these medicinal plants, screening plants as anti-overactive bladder agents may help to find new sources of therapy for overactive bladder.