29.2.7.9 Glycyrrhizin

Glycyrrhizin is a compound isolated from the Glycyrrhiza glabra belonging to

family Fabaceae. It is a glycosylated saponin consisting of two molecules of

glucuronic acid and one molecule of glycyrrhetinic acid. It is used in chronic

hepatitis occurring from viral infections, toxin exposure and tissue perfusion injury.

It decreases the concentration of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) by binding

directly with it. HMGB1 plays important role in triggering inflammatory responses

in the liver. Glycyrrhizin has strong anti-inflammatory properties which makes it

useful in chronic hepatitis (El-Magd et al. 2015). Glycyrrhizin in combination with

matrine which is isolated from Sophora flavescens attenuated the acetaminophen-

induced hepatotoxicity through anti-inflammatory effect and also decreases the

incidence of sodium and water retention (Wan et al. 2009).

29.2.7.10 Curcumin

Curcumin is obtained from plant Curcuma longa belonging to family Zingiberaceae.

It is one of the most ancient compounds isolated two centuries ago. It is used to treat

various diseases such as body ache, diarrhoea, rheumatism, inflammation and

constipation (Pari et al. 2008). It is used in hepatic disorders due to its ability to

inhibit many factors such as nuclear factor-kappa B, which helps in modulating

various pro-inflammatory and profibrotic cytokines. Its antioxidant property also

makes it helpful in hepatic disorders (Rivera-Espinoza and Muriel 2009). In addi-

tion, curcumin also showed protection in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver

fibrosis in rats by attenuating the fibrosis and inflammation (Kyung et al. 2018).

29.2.7.11 Rhein

Rhein is an anthraquinone derivative obtained from Rheum rhabarbarum belonging

to family Polygonaceae. Rhein plays a significant role in antioxidation and anti-

inflammation, inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta 1 and in the suppression of

hepatic stellate cells through which it protects hepatocytes from injury and also

prevents the progress of hepatic fibrosis in rats (Sheng et al. 2011). It also

ameliorates fatty liver disease through hepatic lipogenic regulation, negative energy

balance and immunomodulation (Guo et al. 2002). Rhein also ameliorated the

methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity by acting through Nrf2-HO-1 pathway

(Bu et al. 2018).

29.2.7.12 Geniposide

Geniposide is an iridoid glycoside obtained from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides

belonging to family Rubiaceae (Kojima et al. 2011). Geniposides increase the

expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), inhibit the

expression of CYP2E1 and effectively inhibit liver fibrosis. These effects may be

shown

due

to

increase

in

SOD

(superoxide

dismutase)

and

MDA

(malondialdehyde). It also exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and angiogenic

activities through which it shows protective effects against hepatic steatosis (Kim

et al. 2005). Geniposide was evaluated in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Geniposide significantly reduced the serum biochemical markers and also showed

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