Hepatoprotective Activities of Triphala and Its Constituents

Liver is a vital organ which plays major role in metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics from the body. Liver injury or its dysfunction is a major health problem that challenges not only health care professionals but also the pharmaceutical industry and drug regulatory agencies. Liver cell injury caused by various toxic chemicals, certain chemotherapeutic agents, carbon tetrachloride, excessive alcohol, overloaded iron is well-studied. Some synthetic compounds such as antimicrobials, anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, NSAIDs and analgesic etc. are currently available as hepatoprotective agents. However, such compounds are not totally safe and exert several side effect and disadvantages. In view of severe adverse side effects of synthetic agents, there is growing need to develop more valuable and protected drugs which may be of therapeutic benefits to patients. Hence herbal drugs have become increasingly popular and their use is increasing day by day. A number of herbal preparations are available in the market. Triphala is one of the age old most commonly used polyherbal formulations with known hepatoprotective activities in Indian system of medicine mainly in Ayurveda. This is well known phytomedicine, a combination of three medicinal plants with Phyllanthus emblica (Amlaki, Phyllanthaceae), Terminalia chebula (Haritaki, Combretaceae) & Terminalia bellirica (Baheda, Combretaceae). Present review focuses on mechanism of hepaotoxicity and various scientifically tested hepatoperotective properties of formulation Triphala and its constituents.