دارو های گیاهی محافظ و معالج کبد طب هندی

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 INDIAN HERBAL MEDICINE AS HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND HEPATOCURATIVE:

Received on:

10th Jan 2014

Revised on:

15th Jan 2014

Accepted on:

20th Jan 2014

Published on:

1st April 2014

Volume No.

Online & Print

49 (2014)

Page No.

61 to 115

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A REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

PARUL SHARMA2, SAVITA RANI*1, S.N. OJHA1, S.K.SOOD2 AND J.C. RANA1

1 NATIONAL BUREAU OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES (NBPGR), REGIONAL STATION, PHAGLI,

SHIMLA (HP)- 171 004, INDIA.

2 DEPARTMENT OF BIOSCIENCES, HIMACHAL PRADESH UNIVERSITY, SHIMLA (H.P.)-171 005, INDIA.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: savitarana3@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

The use of plants, or their primary and secondary metabolites for curing human and/ animal diseases has long being in existence in India from the ancient times. Liver injury treatments are among the most important of today’s research domains, because with every passing year there is a more acute need for liver transplants. At modern time human beings have taken many allopathic drugs, toxic influence and food hazards which lead to some form of liver disorder. That is why today’s attention is drawn to the potentials of a few miracle plants that have the ability to reduce or cure liver damage. As many as 792 species belonging to 533 genera under 156 families have been recorded in the present database on hepatoprotective and hepatocurative plants of India. Of these, category-wise statistics reveals that 1 species of the genus Parmelia belongs to lichens; 16 species of 10 genera to Pteridophytes; 6 species of 5 genera to Gymnosperms and 769 species to angiosperms of which 99 species of 69 genera are monocots and the remaining 670 species under 448 genera to 122 dicotylednous families. Their properties are used in many liver disorders, and in the recent studies they are tested for their microbiological and hepatic curative actions.

KEYWORDS: Hepatoprotective plants; Hepatocurative plants; Herbal medicine; India Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

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INTRODUCTION:

Liver, one of the most vital organs in the body, plays a pivotal role in the biotransformation of food, drugs, endogenous and exogenous substances. Profuse supply of blood and the presence of many redox systems (e.g., cytochromes and various enzymes) enable liver to convert these substances into different kinds of inactive, active or toxic metabolites (Ansari et al. 2011). Besides, it helps in the formation of red cells, blood clotting, carbohydrate and fat storage and in heat regulation (Ahsan et al. 2009). The role played by this organ in the removal of substances from the portal circulation makes it susceptible to first and persistent attack by offending foreign compounds, culminating in liver dysfunction (Bodakhe and Ram 2007).

Liver diseases or hepatopathy have become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in man and animals (Nadeem et al. 1997). The various liver ailments are due to viral infections, bacterial invasion, fungi (aflatoxins) malnutrition, alcoholism, chemical change within the body and autoimmune disorder. Liver damage is commonly associated with cellular necrosis, increase in tissue lipid peroxidation, oxidative damages and depletion & elevation of many biochemical markers like SGOT, SGPT, triglycerides, cholesterol, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (Dianzani et al. 1991).

Herbal medicines are known to play a vital role in the management of liver diseases. Many herbs have been proven to be effective as hepatoprotective agents while, many more are claimed to be hepatoprotective. They are used world widely through traditionally by herbalists and indigenous healers (Dhiman and Chawla 2005; Agarwal 2001). In India, more than 87 medicinal plants are being used in different combinations in the preparation of 33 patented herbal formulations (Handa et al. 1996; Evans 1996; Sharma et al. 1991). About 600 commercial herbal formulations with classified hepatic protective activity are being marketed worldwide (Trease and Evans 20002). The active hepatoprotective principles of these herbs play a vital role as a hepatoprotective and hepatocurative acitivity. In the last couple of decades, development of plant based hepatoprotective drugs has been given importance in the global market as modern medicine (Hikino and Kiso 1988). Numerous medicinal plants and their formulations are used for liver disorders in ethnomedical practice as well as traditional system of medicine in India. Many of these claims are anecdotal and very few have received adequate medicinal and scientific evaluation (Vadivu et al. 2008). Present study deals with sustainable uses of herbal medicine which are acute need of modern time for pharmaceuticals sectors. On this view, the present study showed that preliminarily data useful for screening, evaluation and documentation of the haptoprotective drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection of Data

For collecting data of interest on the ethnic herbal resources of India for hepatoprotection and hepatocuration, the research methodology as outlined by Schultes (1962), Jain (1964, 1973) and Parabia Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

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and Reddy (2002) was adopted to scrutinize the old literature (herbals, books, floras, compendia, material medica, monographs, ancient treatises, research publications ; Atkinson 1882; Watt 1889-1896; Anonymous 1948-1976; Nadkarni 1954; Agarwal 1986; Ambasta 1986; Nayar et al. 1989; Maheshwari 2000; Singh, 1996; Kumar, 1999; etc.).

Enumeration

The present database includes information pertaining to botanical names of the plants arranged in alphabetical order along with their synonyms, if available and respective families. Other details given are English, Hindi and Sanskrit names, distribution, reproductive cycle, part(s) used, folk use(s), active constituents and relevant references. For convenience of reference and understanding, the text has been illustrated with the help of 5 histograms and 2 pie-charts.

RESULTS:

As many as 792 species belonging to 533 genera under 156 families have been recorded in the present database on hepatoprotective and hepatocurative plants of India (Table 1). Of these, category-wise statistics reveals that 1 species (1 genus: Parmelia) belongs to lichens; 16 species (10 genera : Adiantum, Asplenium, Athyrum, Diplazium, Drynaria, Equisetum, Lygodium, Nephrolepis, Selaginella) to Pteridophytes; 6 species (5 genera: Ephedra, Juniperus, Pinus, Taxus, Thuja) to Gymnosperms; and 769 species to angiosperms of which 99 species (69 genera: Acorus, Agave, Agropyron, Allium, Alocasia, Aloe, Alpinia, Amomum, Amorphophallus, Ananvsas, Aneilema, Areca, Arenga, Asparagus, Bambusa, Borassus, Calamus, Caryota, Cautleya, Ceratophyllum, Chlorophytum, Cocos, Colchicum, Commelina, Costus, Crinum, Crocos, Curculigo, Curcuma, Cymbopogon, Cynodon, Cyperus, Desmostachya, Dioscorea, Echinochloa, Eleusine, Eleutherine, Flickingeria, Gloriosa, Habenaria, Hackelochloa, Hedychium, Helminthostachys, Homalomena, Hordeum, Hygroryza, Iris, Lilium, Lodoicea, Malaxis, Manisuris, Monochoria, Musa, Nervilia, Orchis, Oryza, Pandanas, Panicus, Paspalum, Pennisetum, Phoenix, Polygonatum, Rhaphidophora, Saccharum, Tacca, Triticum, Vetiveria, Zea, Zingiber) are monocots and the remaining 670 species under 448 genera to 122 dicotylednous families (Figs. 1 & 2).

Statistically, the comparative ratio of species, genera and families between monocots and dicots is 1:6.77, 1:6.49 and 1:5.81 respectively and that of genera and species 1:1.43 and 1:1.50. Imperatively, the dicotyledonous taxa predominate in their usage.

Present study reveled that distribution, predominate usage of 792 species, in which 74 species found in Entire Himalaya, 69 species in north-western and western Himalaya, 56 species in Peninsular India (Ghats, Coastal Plains, Deccan Plateau), 33 species in North-East and Eastern Himalaya, 23 species in Central Highlands and Plains of India and 22 species in tropical forests of India (Table 2). Evidently, the hepatoprotective and hepatocurative plants are being used by all ethnic communities located in various eco-geographical regions of India. Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

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Amongst the 122 families of dicotyledonous angiosperm, 82 species of family Fabaceae is highly used in hepatoprotection and hepatocuration followed by 43 species of Asteraceae, 31 species of Euphorbiaceae, 25 species of Rubiaceae, 21 species of Cucurbitaceae, 18 species of Lamiaceae, 17 species of Apiaceae, 15 species each of Rutaceae and Malvaceae, 14 species of Moraceae, Ranunculaceae and Solanaceae, 13 species of Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae and Acanthaceae, 12 species of Berberidaceae, Rosaceae and Verbenaceae, 10 species of Amaranthaceae, Convolvulaceae, Gentianaceae and Scrophulariaceae etc., (Table 3). In similar way, for monocots 22 species of family Poaceae followed by 14 species of Liliaceae, 14 species of Zingiberaceae, 10 species of Arecaceae, etc. (Table 4). Undeniably, the size of families naturally has a strong relationship with the above statistics.

Perusal of information highlighted in Tables 3 & 4 showed that the relative percentage in taxa of predominant hepatoprotective and hepatocurative dicotyledonous families varies from 10.35 (Fabaceae) to 00.13 (Alangiaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Aristolochiaceae, Basellaceae, Betulaceae, Bixaceae, Cactaceae, Campanulaceae, Caricaceae, Casuarinaceae, Dilleniaceae, Dipsaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Elatinaceae, Ericaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Hippocastanaceae, Hippocrateaceae, Lobeliaceae, Magnoliaceae, Malpighiaceae, Melastomaceae, Menyanthaceae, Monimiaceae, Myrsinaceae, Nelumbonaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Nyctanthaceae, Olacaceae, Pedaliaceae, Plantaginaceae, Polygalaceae, Portulacaceae, Primulaceae, Punicaceae, Salvadoraceae, Schisandraceae, Tamarindaceae, Trapaceae) and for monocots it is 2.78 (Poaceae) to 0.13 (Agavaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Ceratophyllaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Musaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Pandanaceae, Pontederiaceae, Taccaceae).

Presently, most promising Indian genera with a maximum number of species are: Ficus (11 species), followed by Berberis (9 species), Citrus, Curcuma, Terminalia (7 species each), Cassia, Ipomoea, Phyllanthus, Prunus, Vigna (6 species each), etc. (Fig. 3). Thus, the presented information holds great value in screening of plant material for use in drug discovery, offering valuable base for potential drugs against hepatic ailments.

Of the generated information on organ-wise analysis (Fig. 4), plant parts commonly consumed for hepatoprotection and hepatocuration are whole plant (22%), followed by root (18%), leaves (15%), fruit (13%), bark (9%), stem (8%), seed (7%), inflorescence (5%), aerial parts (2%) and wood (1%). However, mode of usage varies from oral administration to external application sometimes supported by certain rituals.

It is hoped that chemical analysis of these plants and their pharmacotherapeutics will provide much needed lead for further researches and new drug development against hepatic ailment The use of plants, or their extracts for curing human and/ animal diseases has long being in existence in India from the ancient times.

CONCLUSION:

From the Indian perspective, the earlier credit to document the scientific study of indigenous drugs goes to many workers such as Chopra and Chopra (1955); Jain et al. (1984); Jain and Srivastava (2001); Jain Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

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(2002). Of the information on plant drugs for liver disorders, review of literature revealed considerable number of publications describing experimental evaluation of hepato-restorative and protective effects of some plants and all of these have been summarized systematically by Chaudhary et al. (2010). Contrarily, literature available on traditional uses of plants in the treatment of liver diseases is scanty, and limited to a handful of few publications as evidenced from the works of Chandra Sekar and Srivastava (2005); Chhetri et al. (2006); Sing and Lal (2008); Kachre and Suryawanshi (2010) and Basha et al. (2011). Moreover, information on various other aspects relating to plant drugs for liver disorders management (Doreswamy and Sharma 1995), natural products and plants as liver protecting drugs (Handa 1986; Hikino and Kis, 1988), development of phytomedicines for liver diseases (Subramoniam and Pushpangadan, 1999), development of hepatoprotective formulations from plant sources (Agarwal 2001), herbal medicines for liver diseases in India (Radha and Yogesh 2005; Stickel and Schuppan 2007) and hepatoprotective activity of some indigenous plants (Sharma and Sharma 2009) have also augmented the literature. However, contributions of Gupta et al. (1972) and Jayaram (1992) highlighted the various types of treatment in infectious hepatitis and other liver disorders. In recent years, efforts have also been made to compile data on promising phytochemicals from medicinal plants that have been tested in hepatotoxicity models using modern scientific system and herbal hepatoprotective leads that may be useful to the health professionals, scientists and scholars working in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics to develop evidence-based alternative medicine to cure different kinds of liver dysfunctions (Ansari et al. 2011). In the absence of any comprehensive account from Indian perspective, an urgent need was felt to consolidate over widely scattered large mass of data on herbal-based therapeutics for liver dysfunctions accounting for morbidity and mortality in man and animals word over, for which no attempt has been made so far. Therefore, this attempt though belated, will fill the gap adequately.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The authors are grateful to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. We are also scinearlly thankful to the Director, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Indian Concil of Agricultural Research (ICAR) New Delhi for providing financial assistance and logical support to carry out this study successfully.

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Table 1: Tradiational uses of hepatoprotective and hepatocuritive plants name, family, distribution and part used and folk uses from India Sr. No	Plant Name/Family	Distribution	Parts Used	Folk Uses
1.	Abrus precatorius L./ Fabaceae	Common throughout India	Leaf, Root, Seed	Leaves sweetish in taste and used in biliousness. Roots also used in preparations for jaundice. Powdered seeds (two) given with water to cattle to treat liver disorders.
2.	Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet/ Malvaceae	Hotter parts of India and in the sub- Himalayan tract up to 1,200m.	Leaf	One teaspoon of leaf decoction taken twice a day for five day to cure jaundice.
3.	Acacia leucophloea Willd./ Mimosaceae	Dry region of country, especially in Rajasthan, Punjab.	Bark	Cures biliousness.
4.	A. nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Delile./ Mimosaceae	Dry - moist inland habitats throughout India from Punjab-West Bengal southwards.	Bark, Root	Bark is used to cure biliousness and roots useful in liver complaints.
5.	A. pennata (L.) Willd./ Mimosaceae.	Central & Eastern Himalaya up to 1,500m.	Bark	Bark cures diseases of blood biliousness.
6.	A. sinuata (Lour.) Merr./ Mimosaceae.	Abundantly in forests, especially in Indian Peninsular states.	Pods, Leaf, Bark	Bark and fruit decoction antibilious. Leaves also useful in jaundice.
7.	Acalypha ciliata Forssk./ Euphorbiaceae.	Western Himalaya: 1,000-2,000m	Whole Plant	Paste of the whole plant with roots of Luffa acutangula (taroi) taken internally with water to cure jaundice.
8.	Acalypha fruiticosa Forssk./ Euphorbiaceae.	Throughout the Deccan Peninsula.	Leaf	Leaf paste used internally to cure jaundice.
9.	Achyranthes aspera L. / Amaranthaceae	Throughout India up to 900m.	Root, Whole plant	10g fresh root extract in ½ glass of cow’s milk with sugar candy given for 2 weeks for curing jaundice. Whole plant also used in liver complaints.
10.	A. bidentata Bl./ Amaranthaceae.	Temperate & sub-tropical Himalaya.	Leaf	Extract of leaves taken internally to cure jaundice.
11.	Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle/ Ranunculaceae.	Common in the sub-alpine & alpine zones of the Himalaya from Indus - Kumaon	Root	Roots are useful in liver problems.
12.	A. napellus L. /Ranunculaceae.	Alpine & sub-alpine belt of the Himalaya.	Root	Roots useful in vitiated conditions of pitta.
13.	Acorus calamus L./ Araceae.	Wild or cultivated throughout India, ascending to 2,000m.	Rhizome	Juice of rhizomes (10ml) with a little sugar or honey and black pepper (Piper nigrum) given twice daily for 3-4 days in dyspepsia associated with abdominal pain in chronic liver disorders.
14.	Actaea spicata L. /Ranunculaceae.	Temperate Himalaya.	Fruit	Fruits useful in biliousness.
15.	Adansonia digitata L./ Bombacaceae.	Occasionaly cultivated in many parts of India.	Fruit	Fruits useful in biliousness.
16.	Adenanthera pavonina L. /Fabaceae.	Deciduous forests, throughout India; also cultivated.	Seed	Seeds useful in vitiated conditions of pitta.
17.	Adensoma indianum (Lour.) Merr. /Scrophulariaceae.	Outer lower Himalaya from Kumaon - Sikkim, Bengal & Assam.	Whole Plant	Whole plant excepting roots useful for the treatment of jaundice and viral hepatitis.
18.	Adiantum capillus-veneris L. /Adiantaceae.	Common in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab.	Whole Plant, Aerial Parts	Aerial parts good against jaundice. Plant boiled with wine given in case of hard tumours of liver.
19.	A. incisum Forsk. / Adiantaceae.	Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab.	Leaf.	Aqueous extract of 5 leaves is given thrice a day for 15 days to treat jaundice.
20.	A.venustum G. Don./ Adiantaceae.	Kashmir, Shimla & N.E. Himalaya.	Whole Plant	Plant useful in biliousness.