Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) Leaf Extract Attenuates Ethylene Glycol-Induced Nephrolithiasis Through Antioxidant and Renoprotective Effects.

Nephrolithiasis affects approximately 12% of the global population and is increasingly diagnosed at younger ages, highlighting the need for safer and more effective therapeutic options. Although Petroselinum crispum (P. crispum) is traditionally recognized for its diuretic properties, its specific curative efficacy against established calcium oxalate stones and its impact on the underlying oxidative stress pathways remain insufficiently characterized. Additionally, there is a critical need to validate the dose-dependent renoprotective mechanisms of the plant's extract to bridge the gap between ethnomedicinal use and clinical application. This study evaluated the renoprotective and antiurolithiatic potential of P. crispum ethanolic leaf extract in a well-established rat model of ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis. Male albino rats received 1% ammonium chloride and 0.75% ethylene glycol for 28 days to induce lithiasis. From Day 15 onward, two groups were treated orally with P. crispum extract at 300 or 600 mg/kg. Biochemical analyses of urine, serum, and kidney tissue, along with histopathological assessments, were performed. Ethylene glycol administration caused marked lithogenic changes, including decreased urine volume, elevated urinary pH, increased calcium excretion, oxidative stress, and impaired renal function. Moreover, it restored antioxidant status by elevating glutathione and reducing malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels. Histopathological analysis confirmed a protective effect, with decreased crystal deposition and preservation of renal tubular architecture. These findings suggest that P. crispum exerts multimechanistic protective effects-diuretic, antioxidant, and nephroprotective-against urolithiasis. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the extract's molecular mechanisms and validate its clinical potential as a plant-based therapeutic agent for kidney stone prevention and management.