Efficacy and safety of a polyherbal formulation in the management of Escherichia coli urinary tract infection

Almas Qureshi; Rais ur Rahman; Yasmeen Shamsi

doi:10.1515/dmpt-2024-0070

Article

Efficacy and safety of a polyherbal formulation in the management of Escherichia coli urinary tract infection

Almas Qureshi , Rais ur Rahman and Yasmeen Shamsi

Published/Copyright: November 11, 2024

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From the journal Drug Metabolism and Personalized Therapy Volume 39 Issue 4

Abstract

Objectives

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most frequent reasons for prescribing antibiotics. Escherichia coli implicated in 75–90 % cases of UTI is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Finding alternative therapeutic agent for this infection is critical, for which herbal drugs may be an option. In Unani medicine, urinary tract infection (Ṭa’diya Majra-i-Bawl) is treated with herbal drugs possessing Da’fe Ufoonat (antiseptic), Muhallilat (anti-inflammatory) and Mudirrat (diuretic) properties. Polyherbal formulations of such drugs are expected to be beneficial in treating Escherichia coli infection. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a Unani polyherbal formulation aimed to develop a safe and efficacious drug for the treatment of urinary tract infection (Ṭa’diya Majra-i-Bawl) caused by Escherichia coli.

Methods

This open-label, single armed clinical study was conducted on patients with clinical signs and symptoms of UTI and positive urine culture for E. coli. Patients were treated with the polyherbal formulation consisting of 50 % hydro-alcoholic extracts of Khar Khasak (Tribulus terrestris), Bhui Amla (Phyllanthus niruri), Kabab Cheeni (Piper cubeba), Beekh -i-Kasni (Cichorium intybus), Beekh-i-Karafs (Apium graveolens), Asl-us-Soos (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) in a dose of one capsule (500 mg) thrice a day orally with plain water for 42 days.

Results

Maximum (83 %) urine cultures turned out negative for E. coli after the completion of therapy.

Conclusions

Polyherbal Unani formulation was found to be very effective for the treatment of Urinary tract infection. Clinical and microbiological cure was achieved in maximum number of patients and drug was very well tolerated without any adverse/side effect.

Keywords: Escherichia coli ; urinary tract infection; Ṭa’diya Majra-i-Bawl ; Da‘fe Ufoonat

Corresponding author: Prof. Yasmeen Shamsi, Department of Moalajat, School of Unani Medical Education & Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India, E-mail: yshamsi@jamiahamdard.ac.in

Acknowledgments

This article is retrieved from the MD thesis of Dr. Almas Qureshi, under the supervision of Dr. Rais ur Rahman, Head, Department of Moalejat, A & U Tibbia College, New Delhi, India. The Authors are thankful to all faculty members of Department of Moalejat and hospital staff of A & U Tibbia College, New Delhi, for their help and kind support for this study.

Research ethics: The study was started after obtaining approval from Institutional Ethics Committee, A & U Tibbia College, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, and getting registered in Clinical Trial Registry-India of ICMR vide No. CTRI/2021/06/034066 dated 08.06.2021.
Informed consent: Written informed consent to participate in the study was obtained from each patient and study was conducted as per the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013).
Author contributions: Almas Qureshi carried out the work and drafted this article; Raisur Rahman conceptualized, designed the work, analysed and interpreted the data; Yasmeen Shamsi made critical revision and gave final approval to the final version of this article to be published.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-08-07

Accepted: 2024-10-06

Published Online: 2024-11-11

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/dmpt-2024-0070

Keywords for this article

Escherichia coli; urinary tract infection; Ṭa’diya Majra-i-Bawl; Da‘fe Ufoonat