Protective effects of plant-derived flavonoids on hepatic injury

Liver ailments have become one of the most health-threatening problems, looking for safe and effective natural liver protection agents is one of future directions. Flavonoids are widely found in traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herbs, some of which have significant protective effects on liver injury caused by various factors. From the recent research progress, it is concluded that flavonoids can enhance the antioxidant functions of liver by increasing the level of superoxide dismutase, glutathione s-transferase and glutathione peroxidase, improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation by regulating the activities of the enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1, cytochrome P450 and telomerase, reduce inflammatory reaction by restraining the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma and interleukin-6, and mediate apoptosis and autophagy by controlling the pathways of genes-p 53-genetics, nuclear factor kappa B and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling, which will provide an alternative way for the treatment of liver injury.