Saponins in Management of Hepatic Disorders: A Review

Liver disease is one of the major factors responsible for increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Presently, limited therapeutic options are available to treat liver diseases. Moreover, allopathic medications are a double-edged sword due to their unfavorable side effects and exaggerated cost of therapy associated with the treatment. Transplantation of the liver is still in infancy state and is associated with staggering cost as well as non-accessibility of donors. Moreover, the cost of treatment is also a very significant hindrance in the treatment of liver disorders. Therefore, the focus is shifting to evaluate the potential of herbal drugs for the management of liver disorders. Although the course of treatment with the herbals is slow yet, the effects are more promising due to lesser side effects and reduced cost of therapy. Numerous plants have been reported to possess hepatoprotective activity due to the presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, etc. Among these phytoconstituents, saponins are considered more promising candidates in the management of hepatic disorders. The present review is focused on the plants containing saponins used in the management of hepatic disorders with their underlying mechanisms.