Natural Products as Hepatoprotective Agents-A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Trials.

2024-07-20
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) 13(14)
- Piotr Służały
- Paweł Paśko
- Agnieszka Galanty

PubMed: 39065511
DOI: 10.3390/plants13141985

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: A literature search was performed in the Scopus database, PubMed, and Google Scholar, covering all articles found up to June 2024.

The hepatoprotective effects of natural products have been a significant focus in recent decades due to the growing demand for the help in the treatment of hepatic impairments. This review specifically delves into the findings of clinical trials involving 13 selected natural products, namely plants and their derived compounds (e.g., artichoke, berberine, and turmeric), algae (e.g., spirulina), probiotics, and other products like phospholipids and vitamin D. A literature search was performed in the Scopus database, PubMed, and Google Scholar, covering all articles found up to June 2024. Artichoke, berberine, chlorella, chicory, green tea, probiotics, phospholipids, schisandra, silymarin, spirulina, and vitamin D caused a decrease in liver enzymes, while for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing. The presented results indicate that some natural products might satisfactorily improve hepatic outcomes in NAFLD, NASH, and other liver disorders; however, further studies and metanalyses are needed to clearly demonstrate their effectiveness.

Research Insights

Artichoke→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Berberine→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Chicory→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Chlorella→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Cinnamon→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Schisandra→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Spirulina→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Thistle→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Turmeric→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Vitamin D→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
green tea→Reduced Liver Enzyme Levels
for cinnamon and turmeric such an effect was either not observed or not convincing
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small