Ghanaian Medicinal Plants With Hepatoprotective Potential: Ethnobotanical Insights Into Bioactivity and Conservation Status

This ethnopharmacological review aimed to synthesise evidence on Ghanaian medicinal plants with hepatoprotective potential, integrating ethnobotanical use, bioactivity, and conservation status. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases. A total of 450 publications were identified; 74 were duplicates, 131 were excluded, and 245 studies met the inclusion criteria for inclusion in the qualitative synthesis. Data on medicinal plant species, botanical families, plant parts, extraction solvents, experimental models, hepatoprotective activity, and conservation status were extracted and synthesised. We analysed and synthesised 245 studies, documenting 260 plant species across 81 botanical families, with Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, and Asteraceae most represented. The leaf was the most frequently utilised plant part (44.62%), and ethanol, water, and methanol were the predominant extraction solvents. Hepatoprotective activity was largely demonstrated in in vivo models (96.15%), with carbon tetrachloride, paracetamol, and ethanol commonly used to induce liver injury. The reported bioactivities were attributed to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and hepatoregenerative properties of medicinal plants. Conservation assessment revealed that 48.85% of species remain unclassified by the IUCN, while 44.23% are of least concern. A small proportion, however, is threatened, raising concerns regarding the sustainable utilisation and long-term conservation of medicinal plant resources. This review provides an integrated Ghana-specific framework linking ethnomedicine, pharmacological validation, and conservation. It underscores the significant therapeutic potential of medicinal plants for liver disease management and the need for standardisation, clinical validation, and sustainable utilisation strategies.