Phyllanthus niruri (Grenn ’-anba-fèy) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Phyllanthus niruri (Grenn ’-anba-fèy, Seed at the base of the leaf, Graine-en bas de feuille) — family Phyllantacées.

Scientific synonyms : Phyllanthus niruri subsp. Lathyroides (Kunth) G.L.Webster, sous-espèce Phyllanthus niruri subsp. Niruri.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: TRAMIL.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 16 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 157 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Type II diabetes mellitus

   Plant part used: aerial parts.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Okoli CO (2011)

     Excerpt The effects of methanol extract of aerial parts of Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae), an antidiabetic herb, on glucose absorption & storage in diabetes were studied to elucidate the mechanisms of blood glucose lowering & glycemic control in diabetes.

   • According to Okoli CO (2010)

     Excerpt The antidiabetic potentials of methanol extract (ME) of aerial parts of Phyllanthus niruri L (Euphorbiaceae) was evaluated in normal and alloxan diabetic rats. Results suggest that extract of aerial parts of PN has great potentials as anti-diabetic remedy,.

   • According to Mazumder UK (2005)

     Excerpt the present investigation shows the anti- hyperglycemic activity of methanol extract of Phyllanthus niruri (MEPN) in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male Wistar rats. The de- creased levels of Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) & increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) & Catalase (CAT) resulted in reducing the free radical formation in various tissues such as liver, kidney, hear& brain of the diabetic rats.

   • According to Yaman E (2020)

     Excerpt The combination of Phyllanthus niruri herbs & Zingiber americans rhizome has been produced as herbal medicine for the treatment of diabetes. While the decrease in blood glucose levels in alloxan induced method were 33.05, 38.82, & 41.79% at dose 90, 135, and 203 mg/kg BW, respectively (p <0.05) compared to control.

   • According to WONG PL (2026)

     Excerpt Data from 2010 to 2025 for in vitro & in vivo antidiabetic studies demonstrated the capability of Phyllanthus species as anti‐hyperglycemic agent. Overall, this review offers a comprehensive insight into the role of bioactive phytoconstituents in Phyllanthus species & enhance the prospects in the advancement of functional food ingredients & drug discovery for diabetes management.

2. 2

   Hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver

   Plant part used: Whole plant.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Sowjanya K (2021)

     Excerpt Phyllanthus niruri, a traditional herbal medicine, was found to be hepatoprotective as evidenced by several preclinical & clinical studies. Materials & methods: The present study is a block randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm placebo-controlled trial that was designed to assess the efficacy of PN on the liver & renal function parameters, total oxidant & antioxidant levels in alcoholic hepatitis patients in comparison to placebo over a 4-week period.

   • According to Liu S (2014)

     Excerpt Furthermore, analysis of the liver pathological changes confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of niranthin. Niranthin is a lignan isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L.

   • According to Shanmugam B (2017)

     Excerpt This is the first report on the antioxidant enzymes & hepatoprotective effect of (-)-epicatechin in hepatitis rats,. The hepatic antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), & glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), & malondialdehyde (MDA) & serum markers aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, & bilirubin are estimated.

   • According to Harish R (2006)

     Excerpt Antioxidant activity & hepatoprotective potential of Phyllanthus niruri, a widely used medicinal plant, were investigated. CCl4 – induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as judged by the raised serum enzymes, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) & glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), was prevented by pretreatment with the extracts, demonstrating the hepatoprotective action of P.

   • According to Okoli CO (2011)

     Excerpt The effects of methanol extract of aerial parts of Phyllanthus niruri L. Effects on glucose mobilization & storage were assessed using the weight & glycogen content of liver isolated from treated diabetic rats, while in vitro inhibition of α-amylase & α-glucosidase enzyme activities were used as indices of effect on glucose absorption.

3. 3

   Cancer: adjuvant treatment for triple-negative breast cancer

   Plant part used: Whole plant. Mentioned synergistic association: Curcuma longa-rhizome.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to HERMANSYAH D (2023)

     Excerpt Curcuma longa extract (CL) & Phyllanthus niruri extract (PN) known to have anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells. Triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) are a small part of cancer-inducing cells in breast cancer, which are characterized by high metastatic & self-renewal.

   • According to Sharma P (2009)

     Excerpt The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of a hydro-alcoholic extract of the whole plant, in 7–9-week-old male Swiss albino mice, on the two-stage process of skin carcinogenesis induced by a single topical application of 7, 12-dimethyl-benz (a)anthracene (100 microg/100 microl acetone) & two weeks later promoted by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/three times a week) till the end of experiment (16 weeks). Phyllanthus niruri is a well-known medicinal plant which has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as hepatoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic, antispasmodic & antidiabetic.

   • According to Jia L (2013)

     Excerpt The aim of the present study is to investigate the anticancer properties of Corilagin in ovarian cancer cells. Phyllanthus niruri L.

   • According to Raja W (2019)

     Excerpt In the present investigation, the anticancer activity of Phyllanthus niruri root extract was evaluated using two stage skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice, induced by a single application of 7,12-dimethyadenz(a)anthracene (104 μg/100 μl acetone) and one weeks later, promoted by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/thrice a week) till the end of the experiment (16 weeks). Phyllanthus niruri is a well-known medicinal plant which has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as hepatoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic, antispasmodic & antidiabetic.

   • According to Araujo RF Jr (2012)

     Excerpt To investigate the cytotoxic effects of spray-dried extracts of Phyllanthus niruri in combination with cisplatin on two cancer cell lines. METHODS: Colorectal carcinoma (HT29) & human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were treated with spray-dried extracts of PN (SDEPN) either alone or in combination with cisplatin at different concentrations (0.5 mg/mL & 1 mg/mL) for 4 h & 24 h.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.