Hepatoprotective plants role in human health: A cross-kingdom review

Abstract

Liver, being one of the most fundamental and vital organ existing in human body and performing significant role in regulation of enormous number of biological processes including metabolism of biomolecules, secretion, storage, detoxification and excretion of xenobiotics from body. Accomplishment of all these processes leads to acute or chronic hepatic injuries and liver dysfunctions, which sequentially contributes to global health care threat as well as it is a concern for pharmaceutical industry as despite all advancements in medicine there is still a lack of completely assured hepato-protective drugs which stimulate and enhance liver function. However, nature full fills these vacant spaces by providing a number of plant derived hepatoprotective phytochemicals, which are comparatively less toxic and this leads to introduction of an alternative phytotherapeutic approach i.e., the use of poly herbal formulations for treatment of liver diseases. Throughout the world, herbalists claim the use of a number of remedial plants for treatment of hepatic dysfunctions. Nevertheless, recent research also reveals that not only phytochemicals, but also regulatory microRNAs are being transferred from plant to animal kingdom. Thus, this leads to an alternative concept of cross-kingdom gene regulation by non-coding tiny molecules i.e. orally consumed plant derived xeno-MIRs play a chief role in human health regulation. The abilities of microRNAs to regulate cross-kingdom gene regulation have prompted the hopes to explore this novel concept in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment as potential therapeutic and dietary supplements. The present review is aimed to compile the available data of promising hepatoprotective plants and introduce the cross-kingdom gene regulation approach as potential therapy for human health care.