Traditional Healing and Modern Insights: A Comprehensive Review of Indian Ethnomedicinal Plants with Hepatoprotective Potential within Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Author
Dr. Bharat R. Nagare
Abstract
Liver diseases remain a major global health challenge, causing nearly two million deaths annually. India faces a growing burden due to alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, and drug-induced toxicity. Modern hepatoprotective drugs like silymarin and corticosteroids offer limited efficacy and safety, driving renewed interest in traditional plant-based remedies.
This review integrates findings from twenty peer-reviewed studies (1999–2025) to explore the ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of key Indian hepatoprotective plants—Phyllanthus amarus, Andrographis paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Picrorhiza kurroa, Eclipta alba, and Tinospora cordifolia. These species exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects validated by modern research. By bridging traditional knowledge and scientific evidence, this study highlights India’s ethnopharmacological heritage as a sustainable foundation for future liver therapeutics and integrative medicine. The findings reaffirm the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) as a dynamic, evidence-based framework rooted in ecological harmony and holistic health.
Keywords
Ethnomedicine, Ayurveda, hepatoprotective, Phytochemistry, liver disease, Indian Knowledge System
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References
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