Herbal components in the complex therapy of acute cystitis in women: optimization of efficacy, prevention and safety
Authors:   Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Kochuieva M.M. , Hrek I.I. ,   V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine, Tsapenko R.I. ,   Consultative and diagnostic center of Obolon district of Kyiv, Ukraine, Kochuiev H.I. ,   Educational Research Institute for Postgraduate Training at Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine, Kushnir V.B. ,   V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine
Published: November 2024

Aim - to study anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of phytochemicals in young women with acute cystitis. Materials and methods. The study included 50 women with acute cystitis aged between 18 and 35 years. The patients were divided into two groups. The control group (n=25) received standard antibacterial therapy for 7 days, and patients in the intervention group (n=25) additionally took a combined herbal preparation at a dosage of 1 capsule twice a day for 30 days and then a further 60 days at a dosage of 1 capsule once a day. Follow-up visits were made 7 days, 1 month and 3 months after the start of treatment. During the study, the dynamics of the complaints, the results of the ACSS questionnaire, laboratory tests of urine and blood were evaluated, and the parameters of the oxidative stress-antioxidant status system were determined. Results. After the course of etiotropic treatment, it was found that the average duration of acute cystitis` symptoms in the control group was 1.67 times longer than in the intervention group. After one month of taking the herbal combination drug, the antioxidant defence system was stabilized: the indicators of oxidative stress in the intervention group had a significantly greater positive dynamic than in the control group; the indicators of the antioxidant system reached normal levels and had significant differences compared to the control group. In the intervention group, there was a restoration of neutrophil membrane-associated pyridine nucleotide oxidase activity and an increase in the functional reserve of phagocytic cells, a significant increase in the number of cells capable of phagocytosis was noted, and the absorptive activity of neutrophils was also significantly higher than in the control group. During the 3-month prophylactic course of treatment with the herbal remedy, the absence of recurrent disease was observed in 96% of patients in the intervention group, in contrast to the control group, where the absence of reinfection was observed in only 72% of patients. Conclusions. The use of a combined herbal preparation at a dosage of 1 capsule twice a day in addition to standard therapy for acute cystitis in women significantly reduces the duration of clinical symptoms and promotes faster clinical and laboratory recovery. After 30 days of use, oxidative stress, antioxidant protection and phagocytic activity of neutrophils are normalized. Complex therapy of acute cystitis with the inclusion of herbal medicine for 3 months is associated with a significantly lower number of cases of urinary tract reinfection compared with treatment without herbal medicine. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.