Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a multifactorial condition that can
exacerbate into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver cirrhosis, is the prime cause of
chronic hepatic damage in patients with no history of alcohol consumption. It is
strongly linked to insulin resistance, obesity and oxidative stress. Unfortunately, due to
the lack of standard treatment for NAFLD, healthcare goals have only been to decrease
the patient's weight, ameliorate oxidative stress and improve insulin resistance. This
study investigated the therapeutic activity of Phyllanthus niruri (Euphorbiaceae), an
herb traditionally used for the treatment of liver diseases in a number of Asian
communities, against NAFLD