The therapeutic importance of herbal materials in liver diseases

The liver is one of the major organs of the human body which plays an important role in the detoxification of xenobiotics, among which are mentioned alcohol, stimulants, drugs. The parenchymal cells of the liver called hepatocytes which have high ability to regenerate, are a main component of this organ. There are many factors that damage the liver e.g. drugs, chemicals, viral infections, autoimmune processes, metabolic disorders. These factors have a significant effect on the proper function of hepatocyte. In the treatment of liver diseases besides medicaments, a lot of meaning has diet as well as phytotherapy that is treatment with use of herbal preparations. The most commonly used substance is silymarin extracted from milk thistle (Silybum marianum).