Herbal medicine for treatment and prevention of liver diseases

Abstract

The rising number of patients with liver dysfunction due to overwhelming usage of drugs and alcohol has paved the path for researchers in an interest in herbal medicine. This is because there are only a few universally effective and available options for the treatment of common liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, fatty liver and chronic hepatitis. Herbal treatment has been used to alleviate disorders related to liver and other internal organs for many centuries in the eastern world, and have currently become a favourable therapy internationally for pathological liver conditions. In recent years, researchers have used scientific methods to evaluate the effects of plants for the treatment of liver ailments, although in many cases the mechanisms and modes of action of these plants, as well as their therapeutic effectiveness, have not been confirmed. Several hundred plants have been examined to-date, but only a handful has been studied thoroughly. Among these, the current study discusses a compilation of herbal medicines used for liver protection, such as Silymarin (milk thistle), Liv-52, Camellia sinensis (green tea), Glycyrrhizaglabra (licorice) and FuzhengHuayu. The increasing use of herbal medicines reflects their perceived effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of disease, and the belief that these treatments are safe because they are 'natural'. The presented study evaluates the effects of herbal extracts in the treatment of liver diseases, provides a general understanding of the actions of herbal medicines, a background for understanding the hepatoprotectiveness of herbs, and the challenges that are faced by the scientific community in researching thoroughly of each and every compounds of the herbs.

Liver immunology and herbal treatment

“…Many studies have proven that plant phyto compound Silymarin has medical applications to cure (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) fatty liver, cirrhosis, ischaemic injury, drug and chemically-induced hepatic toxicity, radiation toxicity, viral and toxic hepatitis by means of its anti-oxidative, anti-lipidperoxidative, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, liver regenerating and immunomodulating effects. Several studies have identified that continuous usage of Silymarin has significantly proved to increase the survival period of patients with alcohol-caused liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer[ 18 ] (Figure 1 ). Scientific studies also have shown that, both silybin and silymarin normalized immunoregulatory failures by restoration of the cellular thiol status, T-cell activation (CD69), together with a substantial decrease in TNF[ 18 , 19 ].…”

“…Several studies have identified that continuous usage of Silymarin has significantly proved to increase the survival period of patients with alcohol-caused liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer[ 18 ] (Figure 1 ). Scientific studies also have shown that, both silybin and silymarin normalized immunoregulatory failures by restoration of the cellular thiol status, T-cell activation (CD69), together with a substantial decrease in TNF[ 18 , 19 ]. Effects of the selected herbal medicines on immune and liver were summarized in Figure 1 .…”

Study of flavonoids dynamic accumulation in the Siberian pea tree shoots

“…; Бобовые; флавоноиды; количественное содержание; спектрофотометрия ВСТУП Актуальність пошуку та створення лікарських препаратів, призначених для лікування уражень гепатобіліарної системи, визначається тим, що саме ці захворювання мають велику питому вагу у патології системи травлення. Проблема регенерації печінки при різних патологіях визначає пошук нових високоефективних та безпечних лікарських засобів [1]. Наші дослідження присвячені вивченню рослин роду Карагана флори України як джерела біологічно активних речовин з метою їх використання для профілактики та лікування різних захворювань.…”

Endogenous Antioxidant and LOX-Mediated Systems Contribute to the Hepatoprotective Activity of Aqueous Partition of Methanol Extract of Muntingia calabura L. Leaves against Paracetamol Intoxication

“…Interestingly, herbals and medicinal plants exert the potential to constitute such a group (Hong et al, 2015 ). A wide range of herbals and medicinal plants have been utilized either in the form of extract of single plant or compound preparations of more than one-plant types to treat liver injury (Rajaratnam et al, 2014 ).…”