HERBAL PLANTS TARGETING OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HEPATOTOXICITY

Hepatotoxicity, or liver damage due to drugs, chemical substances, toxins, infections and dietary factors, can be considered as a worldwide health issue. The liver is essential for metabolism, detoxification, and synthesis of key biomolecules; thus, it is particularly vulnerable to injury induced by oxidative stress. Overproduction of ROS could also lead to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and injuries to proteins and DNA, thus promoting liver disease formation. Herbal medicines have gained significant attention as potential hepatoprotective agents due to their antioxidant and therapeutic properties. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and glycosides present in medicinal plants help reduce oxidative stress and protect liver cells from damage. Plants such as Silybum marianum, Azadirachta indica, Camellia sinensis, and Ocimum sanctum have shown promising hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects in experimental studies. This review highlights the role of oxidative stress in liver injury and discusses the therapeutic potential of herbal drugs in preventing and managing hepatotoxicity.