Phytogenic agents in the therapy of the Liver disease

Abstract

Plant extracts have been used by traditional medical practitioners for the treatment of liver disorders for centuries. This article reviews the clinical trials carried out with thirteen plants and their constituents in patients with liver disease, including acute viral hepatitis, chronic viral hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis, alcoholic liver disease and mushroom poisoning. There is considerable scientific evidence that phytogenic agents can have significant beneficial effects on liver dysfunction and the course of liver disease. At present, silymarin has the most proven overall clinical hepatoprotective effects, although glycyrrhizin appears to be more beneficial in chronic viral hepatitis. With the high worldwide incidence of viral hepatitis, further study of isolated phytochemicals is important in relation to their potential antiviral activity against the different hepatitis viruses.