AN UPDATED REVIEW ON HEPATOPROTECTIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS

Medicinal plants may serve as a vital source of potentially useful new compounds for the development of effective therapy to combat a variety of liver problems. Many herbs have been proven to be effectual as hepatoprotective agents while many more are claimed to be hepatoprotective but lack any such scientific evidence to support such claims. Developing a satisfactory herbal therapy to treat severe liver diseases requires systematic investigation of properties like anti-hepatotoxicity (antioxidants), stimulation of liver regeneration and choleretic activity. Formulation of herbal medicines with standards of safety and efficacy can revitalize treatment of liver disorders. The aim of this review is to elucidate the list of hepatoprotective medicinal plants, which are scientifically proved during jan-dec 2011.