Evidence-Based Unani Pharmacotherapeutics for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Mechanistic Review.

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a global health crisis, affecting a quarter of the world's population, and is anticipated to become a leading cause of liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma by 2030. Conventional pharmacotherapy for NAFLD remains imperfect. In this context, Unani medicine offers a promising alternative for managing NAFLD.

Objective

This review aims to compile information on Unani medications used for the treatment of NAFLD, aiming to provide evidence of their efficacy and delve into the mechanisms through which these Unani drugs exert their therapeutic effects in NAFLD.

Methods

A comprehensive exploration of classical Unani literature was conducted, referencing well-established texts to extract pertinent information regarding NAFLD and its treatment in Unani Medicine. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, were systematically searched to gather information on the efficacy of Unani drugs in the treatment of NAFLD.

Results

Unani medicine offers a rich repository of single herbs and compound formulations. There is a description of about 32 single herbs and 18 compound formulations for the treatment of NAFLD. These drugs act due to their Musakhkhin (calorific), Mudirr (diuretics), Mufattiḥ (deobstruent), Muqawwῑ-i-Jigar (hepatoprotective), and Muḥallilat (anti-inflammatory) action. The bioactive components present in these drugs possess antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective activities. These actions of Unani drugs closely align with the multifaceted nature of NAFLD pathogenesis, and thus effective in the treatment of NAFLD.

Conclusion

The findings led us to conclude that the use of Unani medicines can improve clinical outcomes in NAFLD, as demonstrated by various clinical and experimental trials. However, further clinical trials are essential to provide a safe and effective option for addressing this prevalent liver condition.