Hepato-specific activity of andrographolide, a major constituent of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees for targeting liver diseases

Abstract

Background

Liver diseases accounts for considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide and current standard therapies often suffer from various challenges including inadequate efficacy and detrimental side effects. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees is a seasonal plant endemic to Southeast Asia employed traditionally during in injury, respiratory infections, fever, headache, liver, and other gastrointestinal disorders. Andrographolide, a key active molecule of the plant exhibits broad range of pharmacological activities against various diseases.

Purpose

The aim of the review is to present all scientific evidences of traditional uses of A. paniculata and its important phytochemical constituent andrographolide on major liver diseases and other liver complications.

Materials and methods

We have collected the previous scientific reports by searching common databases like “Pubmed”, “Google scholar”, “Science direct”, “Research Gate” with primary search common keywords “andrographolide”, “Andrographis paniculata”, “traditional”, “Ethno* ”, “medicine”, “Liver” “Hepat* ” “Diseases” etc. to retrieve maximum possible literature reports. The initially collected reports were further screened for their inclusion based on peer-review status or other authenticity confirmable status of the report and actual relevance. In addition, books, thesis, reports retrieved through Google search engine from other open access sources were also included for further screening and inclusion.

Results

The medicinal plant A. paniculata used traditionally since time immemorial for various purposes including liver disorders. Andrographolide is generally tolerable and possibly does not induce significant toxicity. Andrographolide played important role in different pharmacodynamic process such as in oxidative disbalance, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and disruption of immune response, which are involved in the initiation of liver diseases. It targets various signaling pathways including TRL4/NFKB and TGFβ1/smad2, and p38 MAPK/Nrf2/HO-1 to ameliorate liver diseases. Clinical investigations of A. paniculata and andrographolide alone or in combined form have showed significant potential for their use in liver diseases.

Conclusions

Based on all the reported effects of A. paniculata plant gained through traditional clinical studies along with specific pharmacological efficacy of its constituent andrographolide, it can be viewed that there is a considerable potential of this plant for development of new preventive and therapeutic applications against hepatic diseases.