Role of Herbal Drugs in Liver Protection

The liver plays a crucial role in metabolism, detoxification, protein synthesis, and nutrient storage in the human body. Due to its central metabolic role, it is highly vulnerable to injury from toxins, drugs, alcohol, infections, and metabolic disorders. Herbal medicines have been widely used in traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Unani for the management of liver disorders. Many medicinal plants possess hepatoprotective properties due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds. These phytoconstituents exert antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, membrane‑stabilizing, and regenerative effects on liver cells. Several herbs such as Silybum marianum, Phyllanthus niruri, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, and Picrorhiza kurroa have shown promising hepatoprotective activity in experimental and clinical studies. This review discusses the importance of the liver, causes of liver damage, mechanisms of hepatoprotection, and important medicinal plants used in liver protection.