PHYTOGENIC AGENTS IN THE THERAPY OF LIVER-DISEASE

Plant extracts have been used by traditional medical practitioners for the treatment of liver disorders for centuries. This article reviews the clinical trials carried out with thirteen plants and their constit uents in patients with liver disease, including acute viral hepatitis, chronic viral hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis, alcoholic Liver disea se and mushroom poisoning, There is considerable scientific evidence t hat phytogenic agents can have significant beneficial effects on liver dysfunction and the course of liver disease, At present, silymarin ha s the most proven overall clinical hepatoprotective effects, although glycyrrhizin appears to be more beneficial in chronic viral hepatitis, With the high worldwide incidence of viral hepatitis, further study o f isolated phytochemicals is important in relation to their potential antiviral activity against the different hepatitis viruses.