Iridoids as a potential hepatoprotective class - a review.

BACKGROUND: Liver disease rates are gradually increasing over the years, becoming a severe public health problem. The indiscriminate use of drugs associated to a rich fat diet, high consumption of alcoholic beverages, as well as the exposure to viral infections and lipid peroxidative products are considered the chief factors for the development of hepatic disorders. Owing to the absence of reliable hepatoprotective drugs in the therapeutic arsenal, since they present a high incidence of adverse reactions and/or lack of efficacy in some cases, liver diseases are widely treated with medicinal plants. Among them, it can be pointed out those plants producing iridoids, which due to their bitter taste, are believed to be good remedies for the liver. Actually, the hepatoprotective effect of iridoids and extracts, rich in these compounds, has been demonstrated, both in vitro and in vivo. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to scrutinize the available literature related to the hepatoprotective activity of iridoids. METHOD: The information was obtained from scientific databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ACS Publications, Wiley Online Library) until December 2021. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 63 hepatoprotective iridoids were found, being aucubin, catalpol and picroliv, a mixture of two iridoids, the target of a high number of studies, which evince their protective action face to different hepatotoxic agents and detailed action mechanisms.