Fluoride exposure at toxic levels produces marked hepatotoxicity manifested by oxidative stress, inflammation, and structural liver injury. This study evaluated the comparative hepatoprotective effects of Phyllanthus niruri extract and curcumin against fluoride-induced liver damage in Wistar rats, with silymarin serving as the standard reference drug. Hepatotoxicity was induced by oral administration of sodium fluoride for 28 days, followed by concurrent treatment with Phyllanthus niruri, curcumin, or silymarin. Fluoride significantly elevated serum liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and bilirubin. Histological evaluations revealed hepatocellular necrosis, sinusoidal dilation, inflammatory infiltration, and fatty degeneration. Co-administration of the herbal treatments markedly ameliorated these biochemical and histopathological alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Curcumin demonstrated the greatest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy, closely followed by Phyllanthus niruri, both approaching the protective effects of silymarin. These findings indicate that curcumin and Phyllanthus niruri possess significant potential in mitigating fluoride-induced hepatotoxicity and may serve as promising natural alternatives for hepatoprotection.
Khairnar et al. (2026) studied this question.