AYURVEDIC BOTANICALS
Liver Support
History & Tradition
Phyllanthus amarus is a perennial herb found in Central and Southern India
and in Ceylon. This plant, also known as Phyllanthus niruri, is one of
a variety of Phyllanthus species that is used medicinally in that part
of the world. Traditionally, Phyllantus amarus has a wide variety of applications,
with use of all parts of the plant. A decoction of the whole plant may
be given in cases of jaundice, including those resulting from hepatitis
B. Alternatively, a powder made from the roots or leaves may be administered
for the same condition. Other indications for use of the whole plant include
gonorrhea, menorhiagia, and certain other genito-urinary infections. Young
shoots of the plant are prescribed for chronic dysentery. Poultices of
the plant may be used to relieve ulcers, sores, swellings, and other skin
imbalances (1).
Laboratory tests dating back to the early 1970s have acknowledged the antibacterial action of several species of Phyllanthus. In studies of P.dicoideus, it has been shown that this activity is largely concentrated in the alkaloids (most notably viroallosecurine and sercurinine) present in the leaves (2).
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can manifest itself as either acute or chronic hepatitis, but carriers of the virus may not exhibit symptoms for years, even decades. Nevertheless, carriers are at high risk of ultimately developing post-hepatic cirrhosis. The disease process in these cases is invisible, slow, and inexorable (3).
The antiviral activity of Phyllanthus amarus appears to take two forms. First, it inhibits HBV DNA polymerase, a protein necessary for replication of the virus. Second, it interferes with the binding of HbsAg (the surface antigen or jacket of the virus) to the HbsAg antibody (the core of the virus). These actions are specific for the DNA polymerases of HBV-like viruses and do not affect mammalian DNA polymerase at the quantities used in treatment. Indeed, Phyllanthus amarus has proven non-toxic, without significant side effects (4).
The value of Phyllanthus amarus in treating hepatitis B has been under investigation since the early 1980s. Five studies performed on diseased woodchucks, found Phyllanthus amarus to be significantly effective in the eradication of the hepatitis virus in long-term, chronic carriers, and recently infected woodchucks. These results were determined by a measured reduction of HbsAg in the animals' serum (4). Woodchucks were selected as experimental models because of the similarities between human and woodchuck hepatitis viruses (3).
In a few studies that followed, results were less impressive; however, in these trials the dosage and species of Phyllanthus were varied which may have caused this lowered effectiveness. A research group found loss of HbsAg in 20% of the subjects. Following this study the authors proposed further trials at higher dosages.
In 1988, a report published in The Lancet journal indicated that extracts of Phyllanthus amarus were effective in eliminating HbsAg in 59% of a human HBV-carrier test group (5). The subjects who responded to the treatment were observed for a period of 3 to 9 months after the cessation of treatment; all remained negative. Dosages in this study were 200mg capsules of the whole, dried herb, administered 3 times daily for 30 days.
REFERENCES
1. Nadkarni Dr. K.M. Indian Materia Medica, Third Edition, Bombay:
Popular Prakashan Private Ltd., 1976: p. 947-948.
2. Menasah JL, LaGarde I, Ceschin C., Michel G., Gleye J., Fouraste I. Antibacterial acivity of the leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 28 (1990): 129-133.
3. Venkateswaran PS, Millman I, Blumberg BS, Effects of an extract from Phyllanthus niruri (amarus) on hepatitis B and woodchuck hepatitis Viruses: In vitro and in vivo studies. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84 (Jan. 1987): 274.
4. Ibid, 764.
5. Thyagarajan SP, Subramnian S., Thirunamasundari T., Venkateswaran PS., Blumberg BS, Effects of Phyllanthus amarus on chronic carries of hepatitis B virus. Lancet, Oct. 1, 1988: 764-765.
Phyllanthus amarus is a perennial herb found in Central and Southern India and in Ceylon. Traditionally, Phyllanthus amarus has a wide variety of applications, with use of all parts of the plant.