Liver disease is a serious disease and can be exacerbated by the lack of exact therapeutic regimens. Currently available therapies for liver ailments are not apposite and systemic toxicity impedes their long-term use. Medicinal plants have been traditionally utilized for treating liver diseases with insignificant adverse effects.

Several phytochemials have been recognized with remarkable hepatoprotective activity and minimal systemic adverse effects, which could limit their long term use. Further extensive research is warranted which can result in the development of lead molecules for hepatoprotective molecules of future. The current study deals with the biological activity, mode of action and toxicity and upcoming application of some of these leads.

These phytochemicals are generally known to have strong antioxidative potential that cause induction of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase. Other mechanisms of hepatoprotection involve stimulation of heme oxygenase-1 activity, inhibition of nitric oxide production, hepatocyte apoptosis and nuclear factor-κB activation.

The outcome showed that among several leads obtained from plant sources as potential hepatoprotective agents, silymarin, andrographolide, neoandrographolide, curcumin, picroside, kutkoside, phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin, and glycyrrhizin have strong evidence as potent hepatoprotective agents. Additionally, while analysing the hepatoprotective potential of several herbal medicines, substantial efficiency has been reported with agents like silymarin, glycyrrhizin and Liv-52 in treatment of hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and liver cirrhosis.

Source: Ghosh N, Ghosh R, Mandal V, Mandal SC. Recent advances in herbal medicine for treatment of liver diseases. Pharm Biol. 2011 Sep;49(9):970-88.