Liver is the important site for metabolism of nutrients and energy production in the human body. Ayurveda, a traditional medicinal system of India is currently used for the treatment of various human diseases. Therefore, therapeutic plants are getting increasingly popular in the pharmaceutical industry as a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of the emerging new human diseases. Few medicinal plants with significant hepatoprotective properties are mentioned below.

Andrographis paniculata

Andrographolide, the active constituent isolated from the plant’s leaf and aerial part, has shown hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen induced toxicity. Currently, it is used in 26 different Ayurvedic formulations to treat liver disorders such as jaundice and hepatitis. It helps in maintenance of the liver function enzymes by decreasing lipid peroxidation and regulating the level of glutathione and antioxidant enzymes in carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity.

Boerhaavia diffusa

Its roots are used tradionally for liver diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.  The root contain various types of flavonoids, isoflavonoids, glycoproteins and steroids, establishing it as a potent free radical scavenger. Its extract increases normal bile flow and antioxidant defence system with ameliorating cellular morphology in heptotoxicity in experimental animals, indicative of its strong hepatoprotective activity.

Eclipta alba

Its alcoholic extract exhibited antihepatotoxic effect in carbon tetrachloride and galactosamine induced acute liver damage.

Picrorhiza kurroa

Ethanolic extract of this plant displayed restoration of bilirubin and activity of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) against acetaminophen induced liver toxicity.

Tephrosia purpurea

It is regarded advantageous for liver, spleen and kidney disorders and is used to treat diabetes mellitus. Several studies conducted in experimental animals have demonstrated its antiulcer and hepatoprotective effects.

Phyllanthus amarus  

It has shown to possess hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal and antimicrobial properties..

Mimosa pudica 

Leaves and stem of this plant contain an alkaloid mimosine, in addition, leaves also contain mucilage and root contains tannins. Its oral administration for 10 days in experimental animals protected the levels of hepatic parameters such as total bilirubin, ALP, acid phosphatase (ACP), lipid peroxide (LPO) in tissue and serum, gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), AST and ALT against sub-acute toxicity induced by CCl4 exposure.

Hygrophila spinosa

The aerial parts and the roots of this plant are used as demulcent, aphrodisiac, diuretic, urinary and liver tonic, the root contains an alkaloid named hygrosterol which is rich in antioxidants. It has shown to protect carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage after 15 days of treatment with aqueous extract of the plant root, suggestive of its hepatoprotective activity.

Adhatoda vasica

It is antioxidant and chemopreventive agent and improves the activities of glutathione-S-transferase in the liver. Extract of leaves is widely used in cough, asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, inflammation, allergy and jaundice. Studies have proven the hepatoprotective activity of ethyl acetate extract of Adhatoda vasica on CCl4 induced liver damage in experimental model.

Capparis sepiaria

The plant is used in the treatment of tumors, prevents inflammation and acts as blood purifier. The hepatoprotective effect of the alcohol extract of its stem was evaluated in CCl4 - induced toxicity in experimental animals.

Aerva lanata

It is a potent diuretic, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, expectorant and hepatoprotective in traditional system of medicine. Besides, researchers have explored its antimicrobial, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity.

Solanum nigrum

It is medicinal plant used for the treatment of various diseases associated with gastric and liver problem. It is widely used in polyherbal formulations targeting liver diseases problems. Earlier data have shown that S. nigrum extract provides hepatoprotection by mitigating CCl4 induced liver damage.

Wedelia chinensis 

This herb has free radical scavenging activity, hypolipidemic effect, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The hydroalcoholic extract of plant displayed significant liver protective effect by reducing hepatospecific serum marker enzymes such as AST, ALT and haxobarbitone induced sleep time.

Zingiber officinale

The rhizome of Z. officinale is usually used in cooking and can cure cough, cold, fever and liver problems. Data supports the use of this plant against CCl4 induced liver fibrosis, which is attributed to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. 

Rosa damascene

It is used for the treatment of respiratory problem and headache and remedy for relaxing effects, anxiety and depression. Its hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties have been established against acetaminophen-Induced hepatotoxicity.

Rheum emodi

The roots of this plant exhibit hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial and nephroprotective activities.

Nymphaea alba 

1. alba traditionally used as an antiseptic, an astringent, antioxidant and ca be beneficial in the treatment of insomnia. Its flower has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory as well as hepatoprotective effects. Its good hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 -induced hepatotoxicity have been evaluated by various studies.

Cichorium intybus

It is a powerful hepatic stimulant that increases bile-secretion and enhances digestion. Its aqueous methanol seed extract has reported antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects on markers of liver function in the serum, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme (SOD) levels and hepatic histopathology of the liver in experimental animals with CCl4 -induced hepatotoxicity.

Silybum marianum

It is popularly known as a hepatoprotective plant and it is a flavonolignan derived from the seeds of Silybum marianum known as milk thistle. Its hepatoprotective activity has been shown in acute and chronic liver disease against CCl4, alcohol, paracetamol, galactosamine and thioacetamide toxicity.

Source: Shakya AK. Drug-induced Hepatotoxicity and Hepatoprotective Medicinal Plants: A Review. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. Apr-Jun, 2020;54(2). Available at: http://www.ijper.org/sites/default/files/IndJPhaEdRes_54_2-234_0.pdf