Autophagy is a critical intracellular pathway which maintains cellular function by lysosomal degradation of damaged proteins and organelles besides elimination of invading pathogens. Its primary function is to prevent cell death. Autophagy has diverse physiological functions namely; starvation adaptation, prevention of tumorigenesis, energy homeostasis, intracellular quality control and degradation of abnormal intracellular protein aggregates. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of autophagy has given key insights into the pathogenesis of various diseases like Non Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis, Hepatitis B and C infections, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacological modulation of autophagy may have a therapeutic potential in management of these liver diseases. ( J CLIN EXP HEPATOL 2014;4:51-59) O urobros or Urobros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or a dragon eating its own tail, which symbolizes cyclicality in the sense of something recreating itself. In living organisms, cells and intracellular organelles need to be constantly remodeled and renewed. Autophagy is a term derived from Greek terminology for self-eating and signifies the process of cellular selfdigestion in which cytoplasmic components are degraded in lysosomes. Reminiscent of the serpent eating its own tail in the symbol of Ourobros, the cells are able to survive by using autophagy to remove damaged proteins and organelles, eliminate invading microbes and generate nutrients during starvation.After Metchnicoff, a Russian zoologist, first described phagocytosis, the role of lysosomes and autophagy in degrading cytoplasmic components has been elucidated. 1,2 The control of autophagy has been recently delineated by identification of over 30 Autophagy-related (ATG) genes. 3 Autophagy functions to prevent rather than promote cell death. Autophagy has effects of increased cytoprotection, decreased stem cell attrition, decreased oncogenic transformation, decreased dysfunctional mitochondria and decrease in dysfunctional aggregate prone proteins. 4