Liver disease encompasses a range of conditions that impact the liver’s structure and function, resulting in compromised liver health. There are numerous types of liver diseases, each with distinct causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches. Some prevalent liver diseases are hepatitis, cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, autoimmune liver diseases, and genetic liver diseases.
Symptoms of liver disease can vary significantly based on the specific condition and its severity. Common symptoms may include fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain or swelling, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stools, and easy bruising or bleeding. However, some liver diseases may not manifest noticeable symptoms in the early stages.
Below is a list of medicinal plants used to aid liver conditions; they are described as hepatogenic and hepatoprotective.
This list is an excerpt from the noted research paper.
Research Paper: Medicinal Plants Against Liver Diseases
Author(s): Pandey Govind
Published: International Research Journal of Pharmacy; Available online http://www.irjponline.com; Review Article
Table 1: Hepatogenic / Hepatoprotective Medicinal Plants
Table 1: Hepatogenic / Hepatoprotective medicinal plants | |||
---|---|---|---|
Botanical name of the plant | Hindi/English/ Common name | Plant family | Part(s) used |
Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench (Hibiscus esculentus L.) | Bhindi (bhindi tori)/ Lady’s finger (gumbo) | Malvaceae | Root, fruit, seed |
Acacia catechu Willd. | Khair/Cutch tree | Leguminosae/ Mimosaceae | Stem bark |
Achillea millefolium Linn. | Gandana/Milfoil (yarrow) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Whole plant |
Aegle marmelos Correa ex Roxb. | Bel/Bael tree | Rutaceae | Pulp, seed |
Aerva lanata Juss. ex Schult. | Chaya | Amaranthaceae | Root, whole plant |
Agropyron repens Beauv. | Couch grass (dog grass) | Gramineae/Poaceae | Root, rhizome |
Agrostemma githago Linn. (Lychnis githago Scop.) | Corn cockle | Caryophyllaceae | Seed |
Allium cepa Linn. | Piyaz/Onion | Liliaceae/Alliaceae | Bulb |
Allium sativum Linn. | Lasun (lasan)/Garlic | Liliaceae/Alliaceae | Bulb |
Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott | Mankanda/Giant taro | Araceae | Root, tuber, leaf |
Aloe barbadensis Mill. (A. vera Tourn. ex Linn.) | Ghee-kunvar (ghi- kanvar)/Indian aloe | Liliaceae | Root, pulp, aerial part |
Aloe succotrina Lam. (A. vera Mill., non Linn.) | Moka (mocha aloe) | Liliaceae | Leaf, whole plant |
Alstonia scholaris R. Br. | Chatian/Dita bark | Apocynaceae | Stem bark |
Amaranthus spinosus Linn. | Kataili chaulai/ Prickly amarnath | Amaranthaceae | Whole plant |
Andrographis paniculata Wall. ex Nees | Kiryat (kirayat)/Creat | Acanthaceae | Whole plant |
Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker (A. rohituka Wight & Arn. | Harinhara/Amoora | Meliaceae | Stem bark |
Apium graveolens Linn. | Shalari (ajmud)/Cerely | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Seed |
Aporosa lindieyana Baill. | Valaka | Euphorbiaceae | Root |
Aquilegia vulgaris Linn. (A. karelini Baker) | Common columbine | Ranunculaceae | Root, seed |
Argemone mexicana Linn. | Bharband (Shaikanta)/ Prickly poppy | Papaveraceae | Whole plant |
Aristolochia indica Linn. | Ishvari mul/Indian birthwort | Aristolochiaceae | Root, seed, rhizome |
Artemisia absinthium Linn. | Vilayathi afsanthin/ Absinthe | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Aerial part |
Asparagus officinale Linn. | Nag-down (halyun)/ Asparagus | Liliaceae | Root |
Asparagus racemosus Willd. | Satawar (satamuli) | Liliaceae | Whole plant |
Asplenium adiantoides C. Chr. (A. falcatum Lam.) | Pana (nela panna) | Aspleniaceae/ Polypodiaceae | Whole plant |
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Linn. | Black spleenwort | Aspleniaceae | Whole plant |
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Melia azadirachta Linn.) | Nim/Neem tree | Meliaceae | Stem bark, leaf, flower |
Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile (B. roxburghii Planch.) | Hingan (hingot) | Balanitaceae/ Simarubaceae | Stem bark, leaf, fruit |
Baliospermum montanum M.-Arg. | Danti | Euphorbiaceae | Root |
Belamcanda cinensis DC. | Surjakanti/Leopard lily | Iridaceae | Rhizome |
Berbaris aristata DC. | Chitra (rasaut, dar-hald)/ Indian barberry | Berberidaceae | Root bark |
Berbaris asiatica Roxb. ex DC. | Sumlu | Berberidaceae | Root |
Bixa orellana Linn. | Latkan/Annatto tree | Bixaceae | Leaf |
Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (B. repens Linn.) | Sant (punarnava)/ Spreading hog-weed | Nyctaginaceae | Root, whole plant |
Bridelia stipularis Blume | Kangiabel (khaji) | Euphorbiaceae | Leaf |
Bupleurum falcatum Linn. | - | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Root |
Bupleurum jukundum Kurz | - | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Root |
Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp. (C. indicus Spreng.) | Arhar (tur, tuver)/Red gram (pigeon pea) | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Leaf, seed |
Callicarpa tomentosa (Linn.) Murr. (C. lanata Linn.) | Bastra | Verbenaceae | Stem bark |
Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. | Akada (madar) | Asclepiadaceae | Leaf, flower |
Capparis spinosa Linn. | Kabra/Caper bush | Capparidaceae | Root bark |
Carthamus tinctorius Linn. | Kusum (karrah) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Flower |
Cassia fistula Linn. | Amaltas (girimalah)/ Purging istula | Leguminosae/ Caesalpiniaceae | Leaf |
Cassia occidentalis Linn. | Kasondi/Negro coffee | Leguminosae/ Caesalpiniaceae | Leaf |
Cassia tora Linn. (C. obtusifolia Linn.) | Chakunda (panevar) | Leguminosae/ Caesalpiniaceae | Leaf |
Casuarina equisetifolia Linn. | Jangli saru/Beefwood | Casuarinaceae | Whole plant |
Centaurea behen Linn. | Safed bahman | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Root |
Cichorium intybus Linn. | Kasani (kashini)/Chicory | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Leaf |
Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Colocynthis vulgaris Schrad.) | Indrayan (makal)/ Colocynth (bitter apple) | Cucubitaceae | Root, fruit |
Citrus limettioides Ta. (C. medica var. limetta W. & A. of Watt) | Mithanebu/Sweet lime | Rutaceae | Fruit |
Cleome viscosa Linn. (C. icosandra Linn.) | Hulhul (hurhur) | Capparidaceae | Leaf |
Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn. | Lanjai (sangkupi) | Verbenaceae | Leaf |
Colchicum luteum Baker (C. autumnale Linn.) | Hirantutiya (surinjan) | Liliaceae | Corm |
Cordia macleodii Hook. f. & Thoms. | Dahipalas (dhaiman) | Boraginaceae | Stem bark, leaf |
Crataeva nurvala Buch.-Ham. (C. religiosa Ho. f. & Th., non Fo. f.) | Barun (barna, bilasi) | Capparidaceae | Stem bark |
Croton oblongifolius Roxb. | Chucka | Euphorbiaceae | Stem bark, aerial part |
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. | Kali musli | Amaryllidaceae | Rhizome (Tuber) |
Curcuma longa Linn. (C. domestica Valeton) | Haldi (halada)/ Turmeric | Zingiberaceae | Rhizome (Tuber) |
Cuscuta chinensis Lam. | Agamulanetirvel | Convolvulaceae | Seed |
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. | Akasbel | Convolvulaceae | Whole plant |
Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & A. | Mahali kizhangu | Asclepiadaceae | Root |
Delphinium zali Aitch. & Hemsl. | Asbarg (asbar)/ Zalil larkspur | Ranunculaceae | Flower, whole plant |
Dorema ammoniacum D. Don | Ushak | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Gum |
Ecbolium viride (Forsk.) Merrill (E. linneanum Kurz) | Udajati | Acanthaceae | Root |
Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk. | Bhangra (safed bhangra, babri, mochkand) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Whole plant |
Embelia ribes Burm. f. | Baberang (wawrung) | Myrsinaceae | Fruit |
Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.) | Amla (amlika, aonla)/ Indian gooseberry | Euphorbiaceae | Fruit |
Equisetum arvense Linn. | Field horsetail | Equisetaceae | Aerial part |
Ficus asperrima Roxb. | Kalmnor | Moraceae | Stem bark |
Ficus dalhousiae Miq. | Somavalkhom | Moraceae | Bark, leaf |
Ficus retusa Linn. | Kamrup | Moraceae | Stem bark |
Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch. (F. cataphracta Roxb.) | Paniala (talispalri)/Punela plum | Flacourtiaceae | Fruit |
Flacourtia ramontchi L’Herit. (F. indica Merrill) | Bilangra (kanju)/ Governor’s plum | Flacourtiaceae | Fruit |
Foeniculum officinale All. (F. vulgare Mil., F. capillaceum Gil.) | Saunf (sonp, bari-saunf) | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Seed |
Fumaria indica Pugsley (F. vaillantii Loisel., F. parviflora Lam. ssp. vaillantii Hook. f.) | Pitpapra (shahterah) | Papaveraceae | Whole plant |
Fumaria officinalis Linn. | Pitpapra | Papaveraceae | Whole plant |
Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (G. florida Linn., G. augusta Merrill) | Gandharaj/Cape jasmine | Rubiaceae | Fruit |
Gelonium multflorum Juss. | Ban naringa | Euphorbiaceae | Stem bark |
Gentiana olivieri Griseb. (G. dahurica Fisch.) | Agherpanrae | Gentianaceae | Aerial part |
Geranium robertianum Linn. | Hreb-Robert geranium | Geraniaceae | Whole plant |
Ginkgo biloba Linn. | Maidenhair tree | Ginkgoaceae | Fruit |
Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) Correa (G. arborea Correa, G. cochinchinensis Pierre ex Engler) | Ban nimbu | Rutaceae | Leaf |
Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. | Mulhatti (madhuka)/ Liquorice (licorice) | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Root |
Hackelochloa granularis (Linn.) Kunt. (Manisuris granularis L. f.) | Trinpali (kangni) | Gramineae/Poaceae | Whole plant |
Hedyotis corymbosa (Linn.) Lam. (Oldenlanaia corymbosa Linn.) | Daman papar (pitpapra) | Rubiaceae | Whole plant |
Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. | Lalambari (patwa)/ Roselle | Malvaceae | Calyx |
Hygrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. (H. rotundofolia Roxb.) | Khulkhuri | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Root |
Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders. (Asteracantha longifolia Nees) | Talimakhana | Acanthaceae | Root, leaf, seed |
Ichnocarpus fructescans R. Br. | Kalidudhi (gopvadhu, siamalata) | Apocynaceae | Root, whole plant |
Indigofera oblongifolia Forsk. (I. paucifolia Delile) | Jhilla (raktapala, nila) | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Root, whole plant |
Indigofera tinctoria Linn. | Nil/Indian indigo (common indigo) | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Root |
Ipomoea digitata Linn.(I. paniculata R. Br., non Burm.) | Bilaikand | Convolulaceae | Root (tuber) |
Iris ensata Thunb. | Irisa (sosun) | Iridaceae | Root |
Juniperus communis Linn. | Aaraar (abhal, haubera)/ Common juniper | Cupressaceae/ Pinaceae | Fruit |
Kalanchoe pinnata Pers. (Bryophyllum pinnatum Kurz, B. calycinum Salisb.) | Zakhm-haiyat | Crassulaceae | Leaf |
Lactuca remotiflora DC. | Undirachakan | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Whole plant |
Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. (L. leucantha Rusby, L. vulgaris Seringe) | Kaddu (kadutumbi, tumri)/Bottle gourd (calbash gourd) | Cucurbitaceae | Leaf, fruit |
Lepidum latifolium Linn. | Gonyuch | Cruciferae/ Brassicaceae | Whole plant |
Lepidum latifolium Linn. | Halim (hurf)/Garden cress | Cruciferae/ Brassicaceae | Leaf |
Luffa echinata Roxb. | Bindal (devadali, koshaphala) | Cucurbitaceae | Fruit, whole plant |
Lychnis coronaria Desr. | Rose campion | Caryophyllaceae | Root |
Momordica charantia Linn. | Karela (kareli)/Bitter Gourd (carilla | Cucurbitaceae | Leaf, fruit, seed |
fruit) | |||
Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. | Kaksa (golkandra) | Cucurbitaceae | Leaf |
Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. pterygosperma Gaertn.) | Mungna (soanjana, sainjna)/Drumstick tree | Moringaceae | Fruit |
Myrtus communis Linn. | Vilayati mehndi (murad) /Common myrtle | Myrtaceae | Leaf |
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nelumbium nelumbo Druce, N. speciosum Willd.) | Kamal (kanwal)/Sacred lotus (Indian lotus, Chinese water lily) | Nymphaeaceae | Flower |
Nigella damascena Linn. | Love in a mist | Ranunculaceae | Seed |
Nigella sativa Linn. | Kalonji (kalajira)/Small fennel (black cumin) | Ranunculaceae | Seed |
Nymphoides indicum Kuntze (Limnanthemum cristatum Griseb.) | Hinambala | Gentianaceae | Whole plant |
Ocimum sanctum Linn. | Tulsi (kala tulsi)/ Sacred basil (holy basil) | Labiatae/Lamiaceae | Leaf |
Orthosiphon spiralis (Lour.) Merrill (O. stamineus Benth., O. aristatus Blume Miq., O. grandiflorus Boldingh) | Java tree (kidney tea plant) | Labiatae/Lamiaceae | Leaf |
Oxystelma secamone (Linn.) Karst. (O. esculentum R. Br.) | Dudhialata | Asclepiadaceae | Root |
Pavetta indica Linn. | Kankra (papari, katha-champa)/White pavetta | Rubiaceae | Root |
Phlogacanthus jenkinsil C.B. Clar. | Tita gachh (titaphul) | Acanthaceae | Leaf |
Phyllanthus niruri Hook. F., non Linn. (P. fraternus Webster) | Jar-amla (jangli amli, bhumyamalaki) | Euphorbiaceae | Root |
Physalis minima Linn. | Tulatipati | Solanaceae | Leaf, fruit |
Picrorrhiza kurroa Royal ex Benth. | Kutki | Scrophulariaceae | Root, rhizome |
Piper chaba Hunter, non Blume (P. retrofractum Vahl, P. officinarum DC.) | Chab (chavi)/Java long pepper | Piperaceae | Fruit |
Piper longum Linn. | Pipal (pipli, piplamul)/ Indian long pepper | Piperaceae | Root, fruit |
Plantago major Linn. | Lahuriya (isafghol, gul) | Plantaginaceae | Seed |
Polycarpaea corymbosa Lam. | Machechi (dholphuli) | Caryophyllaceae | Leaf |
Polygonum glabrum Willd. | Bihagni (sauri arak) | Polygonaceae | Root |
Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Merrill (P. glabra Vent.) | Karanj (karanja)/Indian beech (Pongum oil tree) | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Root, seed |
Portulaca oleracea Linn. | Khursa (baralaniya)/ Common purslane | Portulacaceae | Whole plant |
Prongos pabularia Lindl. | Komal | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Fruit |
Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. | Bijasal (bija)/Indian kino tree | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Stem bark |
Ptrospermum acerifolium Willd. | Kanak champa (kaniar, katha champa) | Sterculiaceae | Leaf |
Rheum emodi Wall. ex Meissn. | Hindirevandchini (dolu)/ Himalayan rhubarb | Polygonaceae | Root, rhizome |
Ricinus communis Linn. | Erandi (arand)/Castor | Euphorbiaceae | Leaf |
Rubia cordifolia Linn. sensu Hook. f. | Manjit (majith)/Indian madder | Rubiaceae | Root |
Rubia tinctorum Linn. | Bacho (mantyunth) | Rubiaceae | Root |
Saponaria officinalis Linn. | Bouncing bet (soapwort) | Caryophyllaceae | Root, leaf |
Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight & Arn. (S. acidum Voigt) | Somlata (soma) | Asclepiadaceae | Stem |
Scoparia dulcis Linn. | Ghodatulsi (mithipatti)/ Sweet broomweed | Scrophulariaceae | Whole plant |
Silybum marianum (Linn.) Gaertn. | Milk thistle | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Leaf |
Solanum dulcamara Linn. | Kakmachi (ruba-barik)/ Dulcamara (bittersweet) | Solanaceae | Fruit (berry) |
Solanum melongena Linn. | Baingan (bhanta)/Brinjal (eggplant) | Solanaceae | Fruit |
Solanum nigrum Linn. | Makoi (kakmachi, vayasi)/Black nightshade | Solanaceae | Whole plant |
Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. | Mundi (gorakh mundi) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Leaf, fruit, whole plant |
Spondias pinnata (Linn. f.) Kurz (S. mangifera Willd., S. acuminata Roxb., non Gamble) | Amara (amra, jangali am)/ Wild mango (hog-plum) | Anacardiaceae | Stem bark, fruit |
Sutherlandia frutescens R. Br. (S. microphylla Burchardt ex DC.) | Bladderseena (cancerwort) | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Leaf |
Swertia chirayita (R. ex F.) Karst. (S. chirata B.-H. ex C.B. Clarke) | Chirayita (chireta)/ Chiretta | Gentianaceae | Whole plant |
Symplocos racemosa Roxb. | Lodh | Symplocaceae | Stem bark |
Tanacetum vulgare Linn. (Chrysanthemum vulgare L. Ber.) | Peilmundi | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Leaf, flower |
Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wiggers | Dulal (barau, kanphul)/ Common dandelion | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Root, rhizome |
Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. (Tecoma undulata G. Don., Bignonia undulata Sm.) | Rugtrora (dadimpushpak)/ Rohida tree | Bignoniaceae | Stem bark, whole plant |
Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers., Baker in part | Sarphonka (dhamasia)/ Wild indigo | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Aerial part |
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. | Arjun (arjuna, kahu, dhaval) | Combretaceae | Stem bark, fruit |
Terminalia chebula Retz., C.B. Clarke in part | Harra (harir, rohini)/ Chebulic myrobalan | Combretaceae | Stem bark, fruit |
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. & Thoms. | Giloe (amrita, gulancha, gulbel, jiwantika)/ Gulancha tinospora | Menispermaceae | Stem bark, fruit |
Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprag. (T. copticum Link, Carum copti-cum Hiern, Ptychotis ajowan DC.) | Ajowan (ajwain, ugragandha)/ Carum (ajowan) | Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae | Fruit, seed |
Tragopogon porrifolius Linn. | Salsify (purple goatsbread, oyster-plant) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Root |
Trianthema decandra Linn. | Gadabani | Aizoaceae | Root, leaf |
Trichosanthes cordata Roxb. | Bhumikumra (patol) | Cucurbitaceae | Root |
Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn. | Jangli-chachinda | Cucurbitaceae | Stem, leaf, whole plant |
Tridax procumbens Linn. | Coatbuttons (Mexican daisy) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Leaf |
Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. | Methi (muthi)/ Fenugreek | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Leaf, seed |
Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (T. asthmatica Wight & Arn.) | Antamul (jangli-pikvam)/Indian ipecacuanha | Asclepiadaceae | Leaf |
Uraria crinita Desv. | Dieng-kha-riu | Papilionaceae/Fab- aceae/Leguminosae | Whole plant |
Urtica dioica Linn. | Bichu (bichhu booti)/ Stinging-nettle | Urticaceae | Whole plant |
Uvaria narum Blume | Pulichan (kariballi) | Annonaceae | Leaf |
Viscum album Linn. (V. costatum Gamble) | Banda (ban)/Euripean mistletoe | Viscaceae | Whole plant |
Vitex negundo Linn. | Nirgandi (sambhalu, shivari, nisindia) | Verbenaceae | Root, leaf, flower |
Vitex trifolia Linn. | Pani-ki-sanbhalu | Verbenaceae | Leaf |
Vitis vinifera Linn. | Angur (dakh)/Grape | Vitaceae | Leaf |
Wedelia calendulacea Less., non Rich. (W. chinensis Merrill) | Pila-bhangra (bhanra, bhangra) | Compositae/ Asteraceae | Leaf, whole plant |
Withania somnifera Dunal | Ashwagandha (asgandh) | Solanaceae | Root |
Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (W. floribunda Salisb.) | Dhai (dawi, thawi, santha, dhaula, dhaura) | Lythraceae | Flower |
Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (Z. alatum Roxb., Z. planispinum Sieb. & Zucc.) | Tejbal (tejphal, darmar, nepali dhaniya, tumru) | Rutaceae | Stem bark, fruit, seed |
Zingiber officinale Rosc. | Adrak (ada)/Ginger | Zingiberaceae | Rhizome |
Hepatogenic is a term used to describe something that originates or is generated in the liver, such as hepatogenic diabetes resulting from liver dysfunction. On the other hand, hepatoprotective refers to substances or interventions that protect the liver from damage or promote its health and function, like certain herbal supplements, or lifestyle changes. In essence, hepatogenic is about processes originating in the liver, while hepatoprotective involves measures taken to safeguard the liver from harm.
Reference(s):
Pandey Govind: Medicinal Plants Against Liver Diseases – International Research Journal of Pharmacy, Published May 2011 – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2702201422
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