Since time immemorial humans have learned how to use plants as a critical component of traditional medicine. However, advances in science and technology made it more efficient to replace plant-based medicines with drugs that contain a pure chemical entity. Nonetheless, satisfactory treatments are not available for certain diseases. For example, conventional medicines are unable to treat severe liver damage and certain viral diseases that affect the liver. It has come to the attention of the medical community that plant preparations for the treatment of liver diseases can be a viable alternative to conventional medicines.
Researchers discovered that certain viral diseases, including viral hepatitis, could be treated with plant-based medicines derived from many members of the family Phyllanthaceae. The focus of several types of research is on the genus Phyllanthus, because of its unique medicinal properties. The active ingredient found in plants under the genus Phyllanthus is found to have medicinal properties including antihepatotoxicity and anti-hepatitis viral activities.
The proposal to develop plant-based medicines derived from the genus Phyllanthus is not without basis. Plants from the said genus have been used to treat jaundice, and other liver diseases since ancient times (Kuttan & Harikumar, 2012). Researchers believed that the presence of phylogenetically specific phytochemicals like chemotaxonomy is the underlying reason for the plant’s pharmacological effects.
In certain European cities, afflictions of the liver are treated with a combination of Phyllanthus amarus and Silybum marianum (Lewis, 2003). However, in India and South America, it is a single herbal drug remedy against jaundice.
The use of Phyllanthus amarus extracts seems to be effective because of its popularity in many parts of the world. However, clinical trials cannot provide clear evidence that this type of plant-based medicine can be utilised to treat specific liver diseases. A possible explanation is that plant-based medicines should not be expected to work like drugs that are made from synthetic chemicals. Conventional medicines are created to directly affect pathogens.
For example, chemicals in drugs can directly affect the mortality of bacteria and viruses. Plant-based medicines on the other hand can have an indirect effect. In the case of Phyllantus, it contains biologically active compounds with physiological roles (Buchman, 2006). The plant also has pharmacological actions such as anti-oxidant, anti-cytokine, antispasmodic, immunomodulatory, and neuromodulatory (Buchman, 2006). In other words, Phyllantus may not be able to directly deal with the symptoms of liver diseases, but the organic compounds from the plants can strengthen the liver, the body’s immune system, and the body’s other physiological systems. As a result, the plant-based medication enables the patient to increase its ability to recover from liver problems.
Extracts from plants belonging to the genus Phyllanthus have been used as a component for plant-based medicine to treat liver problems since ancient times. Proof of its efficacy is the numerous reports of patients recovering from liver diseases after using the said plant-based medicine. However, clinical trials did not yield substantial proof that plant-based medicines derived from Phyllanthus can cure liver diseases like hepatitis.
This means that plant-based medicines are not expected to perform like conventional medicines made from synthetic chemicals. Plant-based medicines such as those made from extracts of Phyllanthus have an indirect effect on the human body. In this particular case, Phyllanthus strengthened the liver and enhanced other physiological factors that enabled patients to recover from the impact of liver diseases at a faster rate.
References
Buchman, A. (2006). Clinical nutrition in gastrointestinal disease. New Jersey: SLACK, Inc.
Kuttan, R. & Harikumar, K. (2012). Phyllanthus species: Scientific evaluation and medicinal applications. FL: CRC Press.
Lewis, W. (2003). Medical botany: Plants affecting human health. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.