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Liver, being one of the most fundamental and vital organ existing in human body and performing significant role in regulation of enormous number of biological processes including metabolism of biomolecules, secretion, storage, detoxification and excretion of xenobiotics from body. Accomplishment of all these processes leads to acute or chronic hepatic injuries and liver dysfunctions, which sequentially contributes to global health care threat as well as it is a concern for pharmaceutical industry as despite all advancements in medicine there is still a lack of completely assured hepato-protective drugs which stimulate and enhance liver function. However, nature full fills these vacant spaces by providing a number of plant derived hepatoprotective phytochemicals, which are comparatively less toxic and this leads to introduction of an alternative phytotherapeutic approach i.e., the use of poly herbal formulations for treatment of liver diseases. Throughout the world, herbalists claim the use of a number of remedial plants for treatment of hepatic dysfunctions. Nevertheless, recent research also reveals that not only phytochemicals, but also regulatory microRNAs are being transferred from plant to animal kingdom. Thus, this leads to an alternative concept of cross-kingdom gene regulation by non-coding tiny molecules i.e. orally consumed plant derived xeno-MIRs play a chief role in human health regulation. The abilities of microRNAs to regulate cross-kingdom gene regulation have prompted the hopes to explore this novel concept in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment as potential therapeutic and dietary supplements. The present review is aimed to compile the available data of promising hepatoprotective plants and introduce the cross-kingdom gene regulation approach as potential therapy for human health care.

Background and Objective Andrographis paniculata belonging to Acanthaceae family is well-known potential hepatoprotective herb. The role of diet on human health and diseases including Hepatocellular Carcinoma has been demonstrated by innumerable studies which have also testified that plant-derived micro-RNAs, transferred to animals via oral consumption wherein it alters host gene expression and this provides the evidence for inter-species gene regulation. Herein, we aim to explore the role of predicted miRNAs of A. paniculata on human health.Methods and ResultsIn the present study, A. paniculata miRNAs have been predicted and their impact on human transcriptome is uncovered by employing computational approach. By implementing miRNA prediction on A. paniculata genomic data and plant miRNA sequences present in miRBase repository, we have identified 20 miRNAs which are confined to 16 miR families. 197 human target genes were predicted for the identified miRNAs, which were further subjected to Gene Ontology analysis and network analysis revealing their significant role in various biological processes and signaling pathways. The identified hub proteins HGF, NRP2 and CCND1 show their significant involvement in cancerous pathways including STAT3, MAPK, TGF-β, mTOR and VEGFR pathways. Deregulation of these pathways has been reported as oncogenic response involved in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, cell proliferation and metastasis.ConclusionThe findings of our study suggest potentially beneficiary role of A. paniculata miRNAs in regulating cancer via cross-species genetic regulation. Conclusively, our study sustains the promising theory of inter-species gene regulation.

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. The liver is one of the most significant organs in the body, executing a fundamental role in the regulation of diverse processes, among which the metabolism, secretion, storage, and detoxification of endogenous and exogenous substances are noticeable. Due to these functions, hepatic diseases have become threat to public health, and they remain as major worldwide issue. Despite enormous advances in modern medicine, there are no completely effective drugs that stimulate hepatic function, that offer complete protection of the organ, or that help to regenerate hepatic cells. Thus, it is necessary to identify pharmaceutical alternatives for the treatment of liver diseases, with the aim of these alternatives being more effective and less toxic. The use of many herbs or their extracts for treatment of various ailments has been documented in Ayurvedic medical system. The immense potential of medicinal plants used in traditional systems has been well recognized and documented in recent years. Numerous plants and polyherbal formulations are used for the treatment of liver diseases. Phytotherapeutic approach to modern drug development can provide many invaluable drugs from traditional medicinal plants. Search for pure phytochemicals as drugs is time consuming and expensive. This review article is going to enumerate some plants with hepatoprotective properties and it is going to provide a robust insight into the phytochemistry, medicinal uses and pharmacology of a few hepatoprotective plants and their compounds. Nonetheless, further study on the phytochemistry and mechanism of action of the pure compounds are necessary to fully understand the phytochemical profile and the complex pharmacological effects of this plant.