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Herbs for the Liver 2 – Hepatogenic / Hepatoprotective Medicinal Plants

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 plantHindi/English/ Common namePlant familyPart(s) used
Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench (Hibiscus
esculentus L.)
Bhindi (bhindi tori)/ Lady’s finger
(gumbo)
MalvaceaeRoot, fruit, seed
Acacia catechu Willd.Khair/Cutch treeLeguminosae/ MimosaceaeStem bark
Achillea millefolium Linn.Gandana/Milfoil (yarrow)Compositae/ AsteraceaeWhole plant
Aegle marmelos Correa ex Roxb.Bel/Bael treeRutaceaePulp, seed
Aerva lanata Juss. ex Schult.ChayaAmaranthaceaeRoot, whole plant
Agropyron repens Beauv.Couch grass (dog grass)Gramineae/PoaceaeRoot, rhizome
Agrostemma githago Linn. (Lychnis githago Scop.)Corn cockleCaryophyllaceaeSeed
Allium cepa Linn.Piyaz/OnionLiliaceae/AlliaceaeBulb
Allium sativum Linn.Lasun (lasan)/GarlicLiliaceae/AlliaceaeBulb
Alocasia indica (Roxb.) SchottMankanda/Giant taroAraceaeRoot, tuber, leaf
Aloe barbadensis Mill. (A. vera Tourn. ex Linn.)Ghee-kunvar (ghi- kanvar)/Indian aloeLiliaceaeRoot, pulp, aerial part
Aloe succotrina Lam. (A. vera Mill., non Linn.)Moka (mocha aloe)LiliaceaeLeaf, whole plant
Alstonia scholaris R. Br.Chatian/Dita barkApocynaceaeStem bark
Amaranthus spinosus Linn.Kataili chaulai/ Prickly amarnathAmaranthaceaeWhole plant
Andrographis paniculata Wall. ex NeesKiryat (kirayat)/CreatAcanthaceaeWhole plant
Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker (A.
rohituka Wight & Arn.
Harinhara/AmooraMeliaceaeStem bark
Apium graveolens Linn.Shalari (ajmud)/CerelyUmbelliferae/ ApiaceaeSeed
Aporosa lindieyana Baill.ValakaEuphorbiaceaeRoot
Aquilegia vulgaris Linn. (A. karelini Baker)Common columbineRanunculaceaeRoot, seed
Argemone mexicana Linn.Bharband (Shaikanta)/ Prickly poppyPapaveraceaeWhole plant
Aristolochia indica Linn.Ishvari mul/Indian birthwortAristolochiaceaeRoot, seed, rhizome
Artemisia absinthium Linn.Vilayathi afsanthin/ AbsintheCompositae/ AsteraceaeAerial part
Asparagus officinale Linn.Nag-down (halyun)/ AsparagusLiliaceaeRoot
Asparagus racemosus Willd.Satawar (satamuli)LiliaceaeWhole plant
Asplenium adiantoides C. Chr. (A. falcatum Lam.)Pana (nela panna)Aspleniaceae/
Polypodiaceae
Whole plant
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Linn.Black spleenwortAspleniaceaeWhole plant
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Melia azadirachta
Linn.)
Nim/Neem treeMeliaceaeStem bark, leaf, flower
Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile (B. roxburghii
Planch.)
Hingan (hingot)Balanitaceae/
Simarubaceae
Stem bark, leaf, fruit
Baliospermum montanum M.-Arg.DantiEuphorbiaceaeRoot
Belamcanda cinensis DC.Surjakanti/Leopard lilyIridaceaeRhizome
Berbaris aristata DC.Chitra (rasaut, dar-hald)/ Indian
barberry
BerberidaceaeRoot bark
Berbaris asiatica Roxb. ex DC.SumluBerberidaceaeRoot
Bixa orellana Linn.Latkan/Annatto treeBixaceaeLeaf
Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (B. repens Linn.)Sant (punarnava)/ Spreading hog-weedNyctaginaceaeRoot, whole plant
Bridelia stipularis BlumeKangiabel (khaji)EuphorbiaceaeLeaf
Bupleurum falcatum Linn.-Umbelliferae/ ApiaceaeRoot
Bupleurum jukundum Kurz-Umbelliferae/ ApiaceaeRoot
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.)
BastraVerbenaceaeStem bark
Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br.Akada (madar)AsclepiadaceaeLeaf, flower
Capparis spinosa Linn.Kabra/Caper bushCapparidaceaeRoot bark
Carthamus tinctorius Linn.Kusum (karrah)Compositae/ AsteraceaeFlower
Cassia fistula Linn.Amaltas (girimalah)/ Purging
istula
Leguminosae/
Caesalpiniaceae
Leaf
Cassia occidentalis Linn.Kasondi/Negro coffeeLeguminosae/
Caesalpiniaceae
Leaf
Cassia tora Linn. (C. obtusifolia Linn.)Chakunda (panevar)Leguminosae/
Caesalpiniaceae
Leaf
Casuarina equisetifolia Linn.Jangli saru/BeefwoodCasuarinaceaeWhole plant
Centaurea behen Linn.Safed bahmanCompositae/ AsteraceaeRoot
Cichorium intybus Linn.Kasani (kashini)/ChicoryCompositae/ AsteraceaeLeaf
Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Colocynthis vulgaris
Schrad.)
Indrayan (makal)/ Colocynth (bitter apple)CucubitaceaeRoot, fruit
Citrus limettioides Ta. (C. medica var. limetta W. &
A. of Watt)
Mithanebu/Sweet limeRutaceaeFruit
Cleome viscosa Linn. (C. icosandra Linn.)Hulhul (hurhur)CapparidaceaeLeaf
Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn.Lanjai (sangkupi)VerbenaceaeLeaf
Colchicum luteum Baker (C. autumnale Linn.)Hirantutiya (surinjan)LiliaceaeCorm
Cordia macleodii Hook. f. & Thoms.Dahipalas (dhaiman)BoraginaceaeStem bark, leaf
Crataeva nurvala Buch.-Ham. (C. religiosa Ho. f. &
Th., non Fo. f.)
Barun (barna, bilasi)CapparidaceaeStem bark
Croton oblongifolius Roxb.ChuckaEuphorbiaceaeStem bark, aerial part
Curculigo orchioides Gaertn.Kali musliAmaryllidaceaeRhizome (Tuber)
Curcuma longa Linn. (C. domestica Valeton)Haldi (halada)/ TurmericZingiberaceaeRhizome (Tuber)
Cuscuta chinensis Lam.AgamulanetirvelConvolvulaceaeSeed
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.AkasbelConvolvulaceaeWhole plant
Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & A.Mahali kizhanguAsclepiadaceaeRoot
Delphinium zali Aitch. & Hemsl.Asbarg (asbar)/
Zalil larkspur
RanunculaceaeFlower, whole plant
Dorema ammoniacum D. DonUshakUmbelliferae/ ApiaceaeGum
Ecbolium viride (Forsk.) Merrill (E. linneanum
Kurz)
UdajatiAcanthaceaeRoot
Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk.Bhangra (safed bhangra, babri,
mochkand)
Compositae/ AsteraceaeWhole plant
Embelia ribes Burm. f.Baberang (wawrung)MyrsinaceaeFruit
Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Phyllanthus emblica
Linn.)
Amla (amlika, aonla)/ Indian gooseberryEuphorbiaceaeFruit
Equisetum arvense Linn.Field horsetailEquisetaceaeAerial part
Ficus asperrima Roxb.KalmnorMoraceaeStem bark
Ficus dalhousiae Miq.SomavalkhomMoraceaeBark, leaf
Ficus retusa Linn.KamrupMoraceaeStem bark
Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch. (F.
cataphracta Roxb.)
Paniala (talispalri)/Punela plumFlacourtiaceaeFruit
Flacourtia ramontchi L’Herit. (F. indica Merrill)Bilangra (kanju)/ Governor’s plumFlacourtiaceaeFruit
Foeniculum officinale All. (F. vulgare Mil., F.
capillaceum Gil.)
Saunf (sonp, bari-saunf)Umbelliferae/ ApiaceaeSeed
Fumaria indica Pugsley (F. vaillantii Loisel., F. parviflora Lam. ssp. vaillantii Hook. f.)Pitpapra (shahterah)PapaveraceaeWhole plant
Fumaria officinalis Linn.PitpapraPapaveraceaeWhole plant
Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (G. florida Linn., G.
augusta Merrill)
Gandharaj/Cape jasmineRubiaceaeFruit
Gelonium multflorum Juss.Ban naringaEuphorbiaceaeStem bark
Gentiana olivieri Griseb. (G. dahurica Fisch.)AgherpanraeGentianaceaeAerial part
Geranium robertianum Linn.Hreb-Robert geraniumGeraniaceaeWhole plant
Ginkgo biloba Linn.Maidenhair treeGinkgoaceaeFruit
Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) Correa (G. arborea
Correa, G. cochinchinensis Pierre ex Engler)
Ban nimbuRutaceaeLeaf
Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.Mulhatti (madhuka)/ Liquorice
(licorice)
Papilionaceae/Fab-
aceae/Leguminosae
Root
Hackelochloa granularis (Linn.) Kunt. (Manisuris
granularis L. f.)
Trinpali (kangni)Gramineae/PoaceaeWhole plant
Hedyotis corymbosa (Linn.) Lam.
(Oldenlanaia corymbosa Linn.)
Daman papar (pitpapra)RubiaceaeWhole plant
Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.Lalambari (patwa)/ RoselleMalvaceaeCalyx
Hygrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. (H. rotundofolia
Roxb.)
KhulkhuriUmbelliferae/ ApiaceaeRoot
Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders. (Asteracantha
longifolia Nees)
TalimakhanaAcanthaceaeRoot, leaf, seed
Ichnocarpus fructescans R. Br.Kalidudhi (gopvadhu, siamalata)ApocynaceaeRoot, 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.)
BilaikandConvolulaceaeRoot (tuber)
Iris ensata Thunb.Irisa (sosun)IridaceaeRoot
Juniperus communis Linn.Aaraar (abhal, haubera)/ Common
juniper
Cupressaceae/ PinaceaeFruit
Kalanchoe pinnata Pers. (Bryophyllum pinnatum
Kurz, B. calycinum Salisb.)
Zakhm-haiyatCrassulaceaeLeaf
Lactuca remotiflora DC.UndirachakanCompositae/ AsteraceaeWhole plant
Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. (L. leucantha
Rusby, L. vulgaris Seringe)
Kaddu (kadutumbi, tumri)/Bottle gourd
(calbash gourd)
CucurbitaceaeLeaf, fruit
Lepidum latifolium Linn.GonyuchCruciferae/ BrassicaceaeWhole plant
Lepidum latifolium Linn.Halim (hurf)/Garden
cress
Cruciferae/ BrassicaceaeLeaf
Luffa echinata Roxb.Bindal (devadali,
koshaphala)
CucurbitaceaeFruit, whole plant
Lychnis coronaria Desr.Rose campionCaryophyllaceaeRoot
Momordica charantia Linn.Karela (kareli)/Bitter Gourd (carillaCucurbitaceaeLeaf, fruit, seed
fruit)
Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd.Kaksa (golkandra)CucurbitaceaeLeaf
Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. pterygosperma Gaertn.)Mungna (soanjana, sainjna)/Drumstick
tree
MoringaceaeFruit
Myrtus communis Linn.Vilayati mehndi (murad) /Common
myrtle
MyrtaceaeLeaf
Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nelumbium nelumbo
Druce, N. speciosum Willd.)
Kamal (kanwal)/Sacred lotus (Indian
lotus, Chinese water lily)
NymphaeaceaeFlower
Nigella damascena Linn.Love in a mistRanunculaceaeSeed
Nigella sativa Linn.Kalonji (kalajira)/Small fennel (black
cumin)
RanunculaceaeSeed
Nymphoides indicum Kuntze (Limnanthemum
cristatum Griseb.)
HinambalaGentianaceaeWhole plant
Ocimum sanctum Linn.Tulsi (kala tulsi)/ Sacred basil (holy
basil)
Labiatae/LamiaceaeLeaf
Orthosiphon spiralis (Lour.) Merrill (O. stamineus
Benth., O. aristatus Blume Miq., O. grandiflorus
Boldingh)
Java tree (kidney tea plant)Labiatae/LamiaceaeLeaf
Oxystelma secamone (Linn.) Karst. (O. esculentum
R. Br.)
DudhialataAsclepiadaceaeRoot
Pavetta indica Linn.Kankra (papari, katha-champa)/White
pavetta
RubiaceaeRoot
Phlogacanthus jenkinsil C.B. Clar.Tita gachh (titaphul)AcanthaceaeLeaf
Phyllanthus niruri Hook. F., non Linn. (P. fraternus
Webster)
Jar-amla (jangli amli, bhumyamalaki)EuphorbiaceaeRoot
Physalis minima Linn.TulatipatiSolanaceaeLeaf, fruit
Picrorrhiza kurroa Royal ex Benth.KutkiScrophulariaceaeRoot, rhizome
Piper chaba Hunter, non Blume (P. retrofractum
Vahl, P. officinarum DC.)
Chab (chavi)/Java long pepperPiperaceaeFruit
Piper longum Linn.Pipal (pipli, piplamul)/ Indian long
pepper
PiperaceaeRoot, fruit
Plantago major Linn.Lahuriya (isafghol, gul)PlantaginaceaeSeed
Polycarpaea corymbosa Lam.Machechi (dholphuli)CaryophyllaceaeLeaf
Polygonum glabrum Willd.Bihagni (sauri arak)PolygonaceaeRoot
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 purslanePortulacaceaeWhole plant
Prongos pabularia Lindl.KomalUmbelliferae/ ApiaceaeFruit
Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.Bijasal (bija)/Indian kino treePapilionaceae/Fab-
aceae/Leguminosae
Stem bark
Ptrospermum acerifolium Willd.Kanak champa (kaniar, katha champa)SterculiaceaeLeaf
Rheum emodi Wall. ex Meissn.Hindirevandchini (dolu)/ Himalayan
rhubarb
PolygonaceaeRoot, rhizome
Ricinus communis Linn.Erandi (arand)/CastorEuphorbiaceaeLeaf
Rubia cordifolia Linn. sensu Hook. f.Manjit (majith)/Indian madderRubiaceaeRoot
Rubia tinctorum Linn.Bacho (mantyunth)RubiaceaeRoot
Saponaria officinalis Linn.Bouncing bet (soapwort)CaryophyllaceaeRoot, leaf
Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight & Arn. (S. acidum
Voigt)
Somlata (soma)AsclepiadaceaeStem
Scoparia dulcis Linn.Ghodatulsi (mithipatti)/ Sweet
broomweed
ScrophulariaceaeWhole plant
Silybum marianum (Linn.) Gaertn.Milk thistleCompositae/ AsteraceaeLeaf
Solanum dulcamara Linn.Kakmachi (ruba-barik)/ Dulcamara
(bittersweet)
SolanaceaeFruit (berry)
Solanum melongena Linn.Baingan (bhanta)/Brinjal (eggplant)SolanaceaeFruit
Solanum nigrum Linn.Makoi (kakmachi, vayasi)/Black
nightshade
SolanaceaeWhole plant
Sphaeranthus indicus Linn.Mundi (gorakh mundi)Compositae/ AsteraceaeLeaf, fruit, whole
plant
Spondias pinnata (Linn. f.) Kurz (S. mangifera
Willd., S. acuminata Roxb., non Gamble)
Amara (amra, jangali am)/ Wild mango
(hog-plum)
AnacardiaceaeStem 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)/ ChirettaGentianaceaeWhole plant
Symplocos racemosa Roxb.LodhSymplocaceaeStem bark
Tanacetum vulgare Linn. (Chrysanthemum vulgare
L. Ber.)
PeilmundiCompositae/ AsteraceaeLeaf, flower
Taraxacum officinale Weber ex WiggersDulal (barau, kanphul)/ Common
dandelion
Compositae/ AsteraceaeRoot, rhizome
Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. (Tecoma undulata
G. Don., Bignonia undulata Sm.)
Rugtrora (dadimpushpak)/ Rohida treeBignoniaceaeStem bark, whole plant
Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers., Baker in partSarphonka (dhamasia)/ Wild indigoPapilionaceae/Fab-
aceae/Leguminosae
Aerial part
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.Arjun (arjuna, kahu, dhaval)CombretaceaeStem bark, fruit
Terminalia chebula Retz., C.B. Clarke in partHarra (harir, rohini)/ Chebulic
myrobalan
CombretaceaeStem bark, fruit
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. f. &
Thoms.
Giloe (amrita, gulancha, gulbel,
jiwantika)/ Gulancha tinospora
MenispermaceaeStem bark, fruit
Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprag. (T. copticum Link, Carum copti-cum Hiern, Ptychotis ajowan DC.)Ajowan (ajwain, ugragandha)/ Carum (ajowan)Umbelliferae/ ApiaceaeFruit, seed
Tragopogon porrifolius Linn.Salsify (purple goatsbread, oyster-plant)Compositae/ AsteraceaeRoot
Trianthema decandra Linn.GadabaniAizoaceaeRoot, leaf
Trichosanthes cordata Roxb.Bhumikumra (patol)CucurbitaceaeRoot
Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn.Jangli-chachindaCucurbitaceaeStem, leaf, whole
plant
Tridax procumbens Linn.Coatbuttons (Mexican daisy)Compositae/ AsteraceaeLeaf
Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.Methi (muthi)/ FenugreekPapilionaceae/Fab-
aceae/Leguminosae
Leaf, seed
Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (T. asthmatica
Wight & Arn.)
Antamul (jangli-pikvam)/Indian
ipecacuanha
AsclepiadaceaeLeaf
Uraria crinita Desv.Dieng-kha-riuPapilionaceae/Fab- aceae/LeguminosaeWhole plant
Urtica dioica Linn.Bichu (bichhu booti)/ Stinging-nettleUrticaceaeWhole plant
Uvaria narum BlumePulichan (kariballi)AnnonaceaeLeaf
Viscum album Linn. (V. costatum Gamble)Banda (ban)/Euripean mistletoeViscaceaeWhole plant
Vitex negundo Linn.Nirgandi (sambhalu, shivari, nisindia)VerbenaceaeRoot, leaf, flower
Vitex trifolia Linn.Pani-ki-sanbhaluVerbenaceaeLeaf
Vitis vinifera Linn.Angur (dakh)/GrapeVitaceaeLeaf
Wedelia calendulacea Less., non Rich. (W.
chinensis Merrill)
Pila-bhangra (bhanra, bhangra)Compositae/ AsteraceaeLeaf, whole plant
Withania somnifera DunalAshwagandha (asgandh)SolanaceaeRoot
Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (W. floribunda Salisb.)Dhai (dawi, thawi, santha, dhaula,
dhaura)
LythraceaeFlower
Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (Z. alatum Roxb., Z.
planispinum Sieb. & Zucc.)
Tejbal (tejphal, darmar, nepali dhaniya,
tumru)
RutaceaeStem bark, fruit, seed
Zingiber officinale Rosc.Adrak (ada)/GingerZingiberaceaeRhizome

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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