Hepatoprotective medicinal plants traditional knowledge to scientific evidences: A review

Abstract

Hepatic dysfunction results in inflammation and deposition of fat molecules in the liver. The possible side effects of synthetic drugs arose the need for plant derived liver care products and pharmaceuticals. Phyto resources having potential biologically active hepatoprotective compounds viz., Tephrosia purpurea L., Phyllanthus niruri L., Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Wall. Ex Nees., Indigofera tinctoria Linn., Curcuma longa L., Punica granatum L. and Nigella sativa L. are discussed here. Indigenous traditional knowledge and research evidences on in vitro, in vivo clinical trials and neutraeuticals possibly capable for hepatic care are reviewed.