Parsley—ordinary greens or a remedy for kidney problems and swelling?

Aim of the study: To summarize comprehensive information concerning ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of parsley.

Results: Parsley has been used as a carminative, stomach tonic, diuretic, urinary tract antiseptic, anti-urolithiasis agent, antidote, and anti-inflammatory agent, and to treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, heart disease, urinary disorders, otitis, runny nose, diabetes, and various skin diseases in traditional and folk medicine. Phenolic compounds and flavonoids, particularly apigenin, apiin, and 6″-Acetylapiin; essential oil, mainly myristicin and apiol; and coumarins have been identified as the active compounds in Petroselinum crispum. In modern medicine, this plant has demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, analgesic, spasmolytic, immunosuppressive, antiplatelet, gastroprotective, cytoprotective, laxative, estrogenic, diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial, and antifungal effects.

Aim of the study: There is increasing interest in the health and wellness benefits of herbs and botanicals. This is with good reason as they might offer a natural safeguard against the development of certain conditions and be a putative treatment for some diseases.

Results: Of these, the most promising at present are the species Foeniculum vulgare, Fraxinus excelsior, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Petroselinum sativum, and Spergularia purpurea, as well as species from the genera Cucumis (Cucumis melo and Cucumis trigonus), Equisetum (Equisetum bogotense, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum giganteum, Equisetum hiemale var. affine, and Equisetum myriochaetum), Lepidium (Lepidium latifolium and Lepidium sativum), Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus corcovadensis, and Phyllanthus sellowianus), and Sambucus (Sambucus mexicana and Sambucus nigra). However, the number of studies is limited, and we recommend that further studies be conducted to confirm the reported effects. Such evidence is needed to lend scientific credibility to the folk use of traditional medicines and may even help in developing future medicines, treatments, and treatment guidelines.

Aim of the study: Melasma, also known as chloasma, is a common skin disorder characterized by acquired hyperpigmentation. Many patients with this condition prefer using herbal remedies instead of chemical agents. This study aims to review clinical trials conducted on the effectiveness of herbal remedies in treating melasma.

Results: We found a total of 21 clinical trials examining the effectiveness of herbal remedies in treating melasma. The literature review revealed that licorice, rhubarb, a mixture of melon seed and chickpea, sorrel, Aloe vera leaf gel, parsley, tomato, fern, olive, pine bark, and Indian gooseberry had positive effects in treating melasma. Licorice is the most extensively studied herbal remedy for melasma treatment. Some patients who used licorice, rhubarb, and parsley experienced redness and skin allergies. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of herbal remedies in treating melasma. Further research, including clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, is necessary to assess the efficacy of herbal remedies and natural products, as well as their potential adverse effects.

Aim of the study: Parsley was employed as an experimental probe to prevent the behavioral, biochemical and morphological changes in the brain tissue of the albino mice following chronic cadmium (Cd) administration.

Results: Cd intoxication can cause behavioral abnormalities, biochemical and histopathological disturbances in treated mice. Parsley juice has significantly improved the Cd-associated behavioral changes, reduced the elevation of lipid peroxidation and normalized the Cd effect on reduced glutathione and peroxidase activities in the brain of treated mice. Histological data have supported these findings, while Cd treatment induced neuronal degeneration, chromatolysis and pyknosis in the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla oblongata. The low dose (5 g/kg/day) of parsley exhibited beneficial effects in reducing the deleterious changes associated with Cd treatment on the behavior, neurotransmitters level, oxidative stress and brain neurons of the Cd-treated mice.

Aim of the study: 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.

Results: 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.

Aim of the study: Protein glycation is the major contributing factor in the development of diabetic complications. The antiglycation potential of medicinal plants provides a promising opportunity as complementary interventions for complications. To investigate the antiglycation potential of 19 medicinal plants extracts using albumin by estimating different indicators: (1) glycation (early and late), (2) albumin oxidation, and (3) amyloid aggregation.

Results: Petroselinum crispum, Boerhavia diffusa, Terminalia chebula, Swertia chirayita and Glycyrrhiza glabra showed significant antiglycating activity. P. crispum and A. barbadensis inhibited the carbonyl stress and protected the thiol group from oxidative damage. There was significant correlation between protein thiols and amyloid inhibition (R = -.69, p < .001). P. crispum, B. diffusa and T. chebula had the most potent antiglycation activity. These plants exerted noticeable antiglycation activity at different glycation modifications of albumin. These findings are important for identifying plants with potential to combat diabetic complications.

Aim of the study: Polyphenols are key dietary bioactive compounds, reducing oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. This study investigated the in vitro antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of some edible fruits (apricots, plums, figs) and vegetable (parsley) extracts related to their phytochemical profile.

Results: Effect-directed HPTLC confirmed chlorogenic acid as a major contributor to the antioxidant capacity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to comparatively integrate spectrophotometric antioxidant assays, UHPLC-based quantitative phenolic profiling, effect-directed HPTLC bioautography, and AChE inhibition analysis across three edible fruits and one vegetable frequently co-consumed in Mediterranean-type diets, enabling a cross-species compound-activity correlation framework. These species exhibit distinct but complementary phytochemical and biofunctional profiles. Their combined use may support the formulation of functional foods with synergistic antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits.