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| Alternative Names: Bahupatra or Bhuiamla.. History; Source An Ayurvedic herb, Phyllanthus has been used in connection with secondary hepatitis and other pain, and in Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years. Function; Reasons For Use Phyllanthus primarily contains lignans (e.g. phyllanthine and hypophyllanthine), alkaloids, and bioflavonoids (e.g. quercetin). This action in the liver confirms its historical use as a remedy for jaundice. Phyllanthus blocks DNA polymerase, the enzyme needed for the hepatitis B virus to reproduce. In one study, 59% of those infected with chronic viral hepatitis B lost one of the major blood markers of HBV infection (e.g. hepatitis B surface antigen) after using phyllanthus for 30 days.[3] While clinical studies on the outcome of phyllanthus and HBV have been mixed, the species P. urinaria and P. niruri seem to work better than P. amarus.[4]. Phyllanthus has a wide number of traditional uses: employing the whole plant for jaundice, gonorrhea, frequent menstruation, and diabetes and using it topically as a poultice for skin ulcers, sores, swelling, and itchiness. The young shoots of the plant are administered in the form of an infusion for the treatment of chronic dysentery.[1]. Directions Research has utilized the powdered form of phyllanthus in amounts ranging from 900-2,700mg per day for three months.[5]. Side-Effects No side-effects have been reported using phyllanthus as recommended, and there are currently no well-known drug interactions with phyllanthus. India Materia Medica, vol 1. Bombay: Popular Prakashan Private Ltd., 1993, pp.947-8 [2] Bharatiya VB. Selected Medicinal Plants of India. Bombay: Tata Press, 1992, pp.235-7 [3] Thyagarajan SP, Subramanian S, Thirunalasundar T, et al. Effect of Phyllanthus amarus on chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus. J Lab Clin Med 1995;126: pp.350-2 [5] Reichert R. Phytotherapeutic alternatives for chronic hepatitis. Quart Rev Natural Med 1997;Summer: pp.103-8. |
| Hepatitis |