Liver toxicity and role of herbal drugs as hepatoprotective agents: An overview

The liver is a vital organ that plays a major role in the metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics from the body. Liver injury or liver dysfunction is a major health problem that challenges not only health care professionals but also the pharmaceutical industry and drug regulatory agencies. Liver cell injury caused by various toxic chemicals (certain antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, carbon tetrachloride, thioacetamide, excessive alcohol consumption, and microbes are well-studied. The available synthetic drugs to treat liver disorders in this condition also cause further damage to the liver. Hence, Herbal drugs have become increasingly popular and their use is widespread. Herbal medicines have been used in the treatment of liver diseases for a long time so the maintenance of a healthy liver is essential for the overall well-being of an individual. Various herbal medicines are available in the market. The liver is the largest solid organ in the upper abdomen that aids in digestion and removes waste products and worn-out cells from the blood. Liver injury or liver dysfunction is a major health problem that challenges not only health care professionals but also the pharmaceutical industry and drug regulatory agencies. Liver injury induced by toxins is more common nowadays. Herbal remedies are focused in the pharmaceutical industry to evolve a safe route for liver disorders. The present review is aimed at compiling data on promising phytochemicals from medicinal plants that have been tested in hepatotoxicity models using the modern scientific system.