Medicina, Vol. 48 No. 1, 2012.
Pregledni rad
Hepatoprotective activity of phytochemicals
Robert Domitrović
; Zavod za kemiju i biokemiju, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka
Sažetak
Liver is the central organ in detoxification of xenobiotics and metabolism products, and as such is subject to damage. Many factors can lead to liver damage, primarily exogenous factors such as drugs, alcohol, some food ingredients, hepatotrophic viruses, etc. As a result of repeated exposure to a hepatotoxic agent, acute damage can develop into chronic hepatitis, which may require organ transplantation. Today, there is still no successful treatment for hepatitis, and thus the emphasis is on prevention. In the treatment of liver damage, in addition to classic drugs such as interferon for viral hepatitis, there is a growing awareness of the possibility of using some plant extracts and their most active components as a complement to existing therapies. Numerous studies have shown hepatoprotective effects of phytochemicals such as silymarin, glycyrrhizin, luteolin, quercetin and other natural compounds, both in prevention and in treatment of some forms of liver disease. Their positive effect is primarily attributed to antioxidant activity, but antioxidants are not “magic compounds” that can non-specifically treat any disorder or disease. Research in animals and cell cultures show that many phytochemicals interact with cell signalling and gene expression, which could be the basis for their selective use in specific pathological processes.
Ključne riječi
hepatic damage; medicinal plants; phytochemicals
Hrčak ID:
80225
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.3.2012.
Posjeta: 3.601 *