Hepatotoxicity: Its physiological pathways and control measures using phyto-polyphenols

Abstract The liver is the main metabolic organ and the largest gland in the body. It plays major role in the detoxification of drugs inside the body. It is the site of glycolysis, a process through which oxidation of glucose takes place to form pyruvate. The pyruvate enters mitochondria where it is converted into acetyl-CoA. Inside mitochondria, acetyl-CoA produces energy through tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). Extra glucose produced during the process synthesizes glycogen through the process of glycogenesis. It acts as stored energy as glucose is released through the process of glycogenolysis. These activities take place inside the liver, where synthesis of glucose (gluconeogenesis) takes place with the help of amino acids, pyruvate, and lactate. The liver plays an important role in maintaining glycemic level to prevent hyper- and hypoglycemia conditions. It supplies glucose in the form of ATPs to the brain and other parts of body as per the energy requirements. Toxification of the liver takes place due to certain chemicals that are called hepatotoxins, and the process of liver damage/injury is called hepatotoxicity. The problem of liver toxicity is increasing worldwide as there is no any reliable drug for the protection of liver in medical science. Nature has enriched plants with bioactive components having wide range of beneficial activities. Therefore the present was undertaken to elucidate the hepatoprotective role of medicinal plants to modulate the detoxifying functions of the liver.