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Introduction
One of the most valuable sources of ethnobotanical knowledge is the Indian subcontinent where the relevance of indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use is emphasized by the Convention on Biological Diversity.1,2 Approximately 80% of people in underdeveloped nations rely on conventional medicines for their basic medical requirements.3,4 Many indigenous communities still use traditional herbal preparations which are transferred over centuries, even while modern medicine has pharmaceutical therapies for liver-related conditions.5 A complex condition, jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes as a result of bilirubin synthesis, metabolism and excretion defects with an array of pathognomonic features.6-8 From the Ayurvedic treatment to the Chinese, European and other traditional medical systems, the use of natural treatments to treat liver disorders has a long history.9,10 The 21st century has seen a paradigm shift towards the therapeutic evaluation of herbal products in liver diseases by carefully fusing the benefits of traditional medical systems with the modern concepts of evidence-based medicinal evaluation, standardization of herbal products, and randomized placebo controlled clinical trials to support clinical efficacy.
The indigenous communities of Idukki, Kerala, still rely heavily on plant-based formulations for various ailments, especially jaundice. These tribes use their long-standing knowledge of the healing properties of numerous plants to develop natural treatments for liver disorders. Their comprehensive approach improves liver function and immunity in addition to curing jaundice symptoms. Idukki’s rich vegetation and deep forests support a wide variety of medicinal plants that have long been used in traditional medical methods, adding to the region’s enormous biodiversity. Tribal healers, often seen as the caretakers of indigenous medicine, maintain and use herbal knowledge. They locate and collect specific plants with hepatoprotective properties. To boost their power, these herbs are commonly combined with natural substances like honey, buttermilk and coconut water and are prepared as decoctions, fresh extracts and powders. Substances like honey, buttermilk or coconut water are used in Ayurveda along with herbal medicines to heal a variety of illnesses quickly and effectively11,12 The purifying, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of herbal medicines for liver disorders are responsible for their efficacy in promoting bile flow, reducing inflammation and cleansing the liver during treatment13. Thus, the study is an...