Background: The liver is a central organ in metabolism, detoxification and protein biosynthesis. However it is very susceptible to injury by toxins, drugs and infections. Medicinal plants have gained interest as a potential source of hepatoprotective agents in recent years due to their wide range of bioactive compounds and superior safety profiles than conventional synthetic therapies. Objective: This scoping review aims to identify and summarize medicinal plants with hepatoprotective potential, their bioactive compounds, and the pharmacological mechanisms underlying their protective effects against hepatotoxicity. Methods: The study materials consisted of peer-reviewed scientific publications retrieved from Web of Science, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. The selected articles focused on medicinal plants with hepatoprotective activity, their bioactive constituents, hepatoprotective mechanisms, and hepatotoxicity induction models. Results: A total of 19 medicinal plant species were identified, predominantly evaluated in in vivo models of chemically induced liver injury, including CCl₄, paracetamol, methotrexate, alcohol, and diclofenac induced hepatotoxicity. Various of metabolite, including, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and glycosides. Most studies demonstrated significant reductions in serum ALT, AST, bilirubin, and oxidative stress markers, accompanied by improved antioxidant status and liver histopathology. These effects were associated with modulation of the NF-κB, STAT3, and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Conclusion: This review highlights medicinal plants as promising candidates for the development of hepatoprotective agents for the management of liver diseases.
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