P.L. Rajagopal

Chronic hepatic diseases stand as one of the foremost health troubles worldwide, with liver cirrhosis and drug induced liver injury accounting ninth leading cause of death in western and developing countries. Therapies developed along the principles of western medicine are often limited in efficacy, carry the risk of adverse effects, and are often too costly, especially for the developing world. The present review focused on different types of herbs which are traditionally used as hepatoprotective. These herbal drugs have shown the ability to maintain the normal functional statues of the liver with or without fewer side effects and medicinal plants may offer new alternatives to the limited therapeutic options that exist at present in the treatment of liver diseases or their symptoms, and they should be considered for future studies. Key words: Hepatotoxicity, Hepatoprotection, Herbs.