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Potential Role of Medicinal Plants in the Cure of Liver and Kidney Diseases

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Non-Timber Forest Products

Abstract

Medicinal plants have provided remedies for human illnesses for centuries. Forests are the natural gene bank, where a huge diversity of valuable medicinal plant species are conserved. Traditional healers throughout the world explore and use several medicinal plants. These plants are obtained from the forest or from the outside of the forest and used in the treatment of various human maladies. Liver and kidney are very important organs and displayed a lot of functions. Currently, the number of patients with liver and kidney dysfunction is increasing due to overwhelming uses of drugs, alcohol, and so on. In this connection, medicinal plants are considered essential and beneficial to cure liver and kidney diseases. Further, the scientific investigation has also shown and approved the effectiveness of a large number of forest-based plant species in the management of liver and kidney problems. Some of the important herbs, shrubs, and trees obtained from the forests and other location are Emblica officinalis, Andrographis paniculata, Boerhavia diffusa, Cichorium intybus, Curcuma longa, Phyllantus niruri, Solanum nigrum, Tinospora cordifolia, etc. and used for the cure of liver disease. Similarly, Aegle marmelos, Amaranthus spinosus, Bacopa monnieri, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Eclipta prostrate, Cyperus rotundus, Tribulus terrestris, etc. are useful in kidney ailments. These plants contained certain biologically active compounds in seed, fruit, flower, leaf, stem and/or root, etc. Accordingly, they are used in the cure of liver, kidney, and other diseases and also exploited for effective herbal drug preparation by several herbal and pharmaceutical companies. Albeit the mechanisms and modes of action of these plants in cure of liver, kidney, and other diseases have not been confirmed. The current chapter highlights the potential of medicinal plants, including their families, major bioactive molecules, and associated therapeutic role in liver and kidney disease management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prakriti Bachao Foundation, Ranchi, India

    Shakeelur Rahman

  2. Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia

    Azamal Husen

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  1. Shakeelur Rahman
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  1. Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia

    Azamal Husen

  2. Department of Industrial Chemistry, College of Applied Sciences, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Rakesh Kumar Bachheti

  3. Department of Environmental Science, Graphic Era University, Dehradun, India

    Archana Bachheti

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Rahman, S., Husen, A. (2021). Potential Role of Medicinal Plants in the Cure of Liver and Kidney Diseases. In: Husen, A., Bachheti, R.K., Bachheti, A. (eds) Non-Timber Forest Products. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73077-2_10

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