Bioactive Herbs for Liver Disorders: A Phyto-Pharmacological Review

This review aims to explore the therapeutic potential and safety of herbal bioactive compounds in the treatment of various liver disorders. As the liver plays a critical role in digestion, detoxification, energy storage, and protein synthesis, any impairment in its function can lead to significant health complications. The study aims to identify effective herbal agents that may support liver health.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using scientific databases and platforms including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, HINARI, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The review includes studies that investigate the hepatoprotective potential of herbal bioactives, while research related to hepatic cancers was excluded to maintain a focus on non-malignant liver disorders.

The review identifies several medicinal plants and their active constituents that exhibit hepatoprotective properties. These bioactives function through various pharmacological mechanisms at the molecular level. Common liver conditions addressed include fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, steatosis, and cirrhosis. The reviewed compounds demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic activities, supporting their role in liver disease management.

The findings support growing evidence that herbal bioactives can modulate key molecular pathways involved in liver disorders. These results align with existing studies highlighting the benefits of plant-based treatments. However, the limitations include a lack of clinical trial data, poor bioavailability of some compounds, and the need for standardized formulations. Further research is necessary to validate these results in human populations.

Herbal bioactives such as flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, vitamins, and essential oils show promising hepatoprotective effects. This review emphasizes the importance of understanding their precise molecular mechanisms and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) profiles. These insights are crucial for developing safe, effective, and standardized herbal therapies for liver disease management.