Studies in Natural Products Chemistry: Chapter 8 - Hepatoprotective potential of bioflavonoids

The liver controls the body's internal environment via various physiological and metabolic processes, either independently or together with other organs. Liver disease is defined as an injury to the hepatic cells and tissues, mainly caused by viral infections, toxic compounds, high doses of drugs, and excessive alcohol intake. There are an estimated two million hepatic disease–associated deaths recorded annually worldwide with a diverse etiology. Numerous medicinal plants and their phytochemicals have been reported to display hepatoprotective activity. Among those, bioflavonoids, low-molecular-weight phenolics possessing a basic C6–C3–C6 structure, have been reported to have the ability to treat hepatic diseases. In the current study, we aimed to summarize hepatic diseases and strategies to treat them and added a brief note on the bioflavonoids that have been tested against hepatic diseases.