Iridoids in liver diseases: Mechanistic insights and molecular mechanism

Over the past decade, the prevalence of hepatic disorders has shown a steady upsurge, raising serious public health concerns. Alcohol consumption, indiscriminate use of medications, a high-calorie diet and exposure to viral infections are all thought to be the primary risk factors for developing hepatic diseases. Due to the lack of effective treatments for hepatic disorders, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancers, and the numerous side effects of existing therapies, medicinal plants are receiving increased attention as an alternative treatment for hepatic disorders. Iridoids are bitter-tasting secondary metabolites found in many medicinal plants. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that iridoids or extracts containing iridoids produce hepatoprotective effects by targeting inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction. This comprehensive review discusses scientific research on the hepatoprotective effects of various iridoids and the targeted pathways involved in liver disorders. Research data on iridoids as hepatoprotective molecules were obtained through multiple databases such as ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed, Wiley Online Library and Scopus using relevant keywords such as iridoids and hepatoprotective. Based on the available information, further research is required for the optimization of the targeted delivery of iridoids in therapeutic and toxicity studies and randomized clinical trials in humans. Please cite this article as: Dogra S, Patial V. Iridoids in liver diseases: Mechanistic insights and molecular mechanism. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(3):310-326.