Comparative efficacy of herbal hepatoproective agents silymarin in paractamol induced hepatotoxicity- a meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: One of the most widely used analgesics and antipyretics in the world is paracetamol, sometimes known as acetaminophen. However, because of the production of harmful metabolites that result in oxidative stress and liver damage, excessive ingestion can induce severe hepatotoxicity. Herbal substances like silymarin and other plant-derived antioxidants are among the hepatoprotective medicines that have been investigated to lessen liver damage.

Objective: The present meta-analysis aims to evaluate and compare the hepatoprotective efficacy of herbal agents, particularly silymarin, in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity based on available experimental and clinical studies.

Methods: To find studies assessing the hepatoprotective effects of herbal medicines in paracetamol-induced liver injury, a thorough search of electronic databases was carried out. Included were pertinent studies that reported histopathological results and biochemical measures including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The protective effectiveness of silymarin and other herbal hepatoprotective drugs was compared by pooling and analyzing data from relevant research.

Results: According to the meta-analysis, in models of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity, silymarin and a number of herbal remedies considerably lowered liver enzyme levels and enhanced histological results. By lowering oxidative stress and boosting antioxidant defense systems, silymarin consistently showed hepatoprotective benefits among the assessed compounds.

Conclusion: Hepatotoxicity caused by paracetamol can be prevented and reduced with the help of herbal hepatoprotective substances, especially silymarin. The potential use of herbal substances as supplemental treatment alternatives for liver protection is supported by these findings. To confirm their efficacy and safety, more extensive clinical research is needed