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Review
In vitro and in vivo studies of medicinal plants against hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections: A narrative review
Shabila Lintang Ramadhani
1 
, Tutik Sri Wahyuni
2,3* , Achmad Fuad Hafid
2,3 , Chie Aoki-Utsubo
4 , Youdiil Ophinni
5,6 1 Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
3 Center of Natural Product Medicine and Research Development, Institute of Tropical Disease, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia
4 Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University, 7-10-2, Tomogaoka, Suma-ku, Kobe 654-0142, Japan
5 Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
6 Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, 46 Yoshidashimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8304, Japan
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remain major global health problems. This review summarizes current evidence on medicinal plants with reported antiviral activity against HBV and HCV, focusing on experimental models and underlying molecular mechanisms. A narrative review approach was used to identify and present relevant studies from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using keywords related to hepatitis viruses and medicinal plants. Relevant studies were selected based on their relevance to the topic, particularly those reporting antiviral activity in in vitro and in vivo models. The findings were synthesized narratively by organizing the evidence according to plant species, extract types, viral targets, and mechanisms of antiviral action. Medicinal plants contained diverse bioactive compounds with antiviral potential, including flavonoids, alkaloids, chalcones, polysaccharides, and polyphenols. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies indicates that these compounds may inhibit viral attachment and entry, suppress polymerase activity, reduce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) secretion, interfere with capsid assembly, and inhibit HCV non-structural proteins. Notable compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), silibinin, quercetin derivatives, and solanopubamine demonstrated reductions in viral nucleic acid levels and improvements in liver-related outcomes in experimental models. Medicinal plants are promising antiviral sources against HBV and HCV due to their multi-target bioactive compounds. However, variability in extracts and limited clinical evidence require further standardized and clinical studies to confirm their therapeutic use.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
This narrative review highlights the potential of medicinal plants as multi-target antiviral agents against the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. These findings may support the development of complementary or alternative therapeutic strategies, particularly in low-resource settings with limited access to conventional antiviral therapies. The study also provides a scientific basis for future pharmacological research by compiling evidence on medicinal plant species, their bioactive compounds, antiviral activity (including IC50 and CC50 values), experimental models, and underlying mechanisms, which may guide further investigation of plant-derived antiviral agents. Furthermore, this review contributes to medical education by enhancing understanding of plant-derived antiviral mechanisms and their potential integration into evidence-based clinical practice.
Please cite this paper as: Ramadhani SL, Wahyuni TS, Hafid AF, Aoki-Utsubo C, Ophinni Y. In vitro and in vivo studies of medicinal plants against hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections: A narrative review. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2026;15(4):433-444. doi: 10.34172/jhp.53715.