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Claim: A Facebook user recently claimed that stonebreaker leaf and lemongrass could cure all types of hepatitis.
Verdict: Insufficient Evidence. There is not enough scientific evidence to back up the claim. While the plants may have ameliorating effects, more research is needed to determine which metabolites will be extracted.
Full Text
Viral hepatitis affects more than 300 million people globally. Hence, it is unsurprising that people seek alternative methods to cure this condition online.
A Facebook user, Onyi Celestine, advised her followers suffering from hepatitis to obtain a sufficient quantity of stone breaker leaf and lemongrass, boil them together for about an hour, and take a cup twice daily.
She claimed that regardless of the type of hepatitis a person may be suffering from, taking the concoction early in the morning and late at night for at least two weeks would eliminate hepatitis symptoms from the body.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It is usually the result of a viral infection, but there are other non-infectious causes, including medications, drugs, toxins, alcohol, and autoimmune hepatitis.
There are five main types of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E, each differing in modes of transmission, severity of illness, geographical distribution, and prevention methods.
The World Health Organization notes that types B and C cause chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and are the leading causes of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
Hepatitis A can be transmitted from contaminated food or water or close contact with an infected person or object. In mild cases, patients may not require treatment and recover without long-term liver damage. It is, however, significant to practice good hygiene as this variant of hepatitis could cause a sudden loss of liver function, though in rare cases.
Hepatitis B is transmitted when blood, semen, or other body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of an uninfected person.
Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after exposure to HBV. If this is left untreated, it can result in chronic hepatitis B, which can cause serious health problems such as liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.
Although anyone can get hepatitis B, certain life circumstances, jobs, and behaviours can increase a person’s risk.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, and it is spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. Someone with acute hepatitis C may have a very mild illness with few or no symptoms or a serious condition that could require hospitalisation.
Less than half of people who get hepatitis C can clear the virus in the first 6 months after infection without treatment.
However, many of those who get the virus will develop a chronic infection, and when left untreated, this can cause serious health problems.
The Hepatitis D virus requires the hepatitis B virus for its replication. Hepatitis D infection cannot occur in the absence of the hepatitis B virus, and this co-infection is considered the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis E, also called enteric hepatitis, just like hepatitis A, is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. It is generally not fatal, though it is more serious in women during pregnancy and can cause fetal complications. Most patients with hepatitis E recover completely.
What does research say?
Stone breaker leaf, scientifically known as Phyllanthus Niruri is said to have been used by traditional healers over time to treat various illnesses, including hepatitis.
A Healthline article explained that the Phyllanthus Niruri, also known as chanca piedra, may help improve liver function and protect the liver from cellular damage caused by free radicals.
Also, research studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of the plant in managing hepatitis B, albeit these were animal or test-tube studies requiring more studies conducted on humans.
A study that tested the antiviral activity of herbs of the Phyllanthus family included Phyllanthus Amarus, Phyllanthus Niruri, and Phyllanthus Urinaria. The study noted that those treated with extracts from the phyllantus urinaria were more likely to lose detectable hepatitis B e-antigen from their serum. but no patient changed status concerning hepatitis B s-antigen.
Another study on the effect of the phyllantus niruri on Hepatitis B infection in humans extracted both ethanol and pelagic acid from the plant. While the ethanol fraction showed an inhibitory effect on HBV-infected cells, pelagic acid did not affect HBV replication. However, this study was done in vitro.
A study examined the effect of lemongrass on liver injury in male rats and concluded that the plant has a potent protective effect on hydrogen peroxide-induced liver injury. The administration of the plant significantly reduced liver enzyme activities and attenuated oxidative stress.
Another study used oil extracted from lemon grass to treat liver injury in rats. It was discovered that citral, a major component of the oil, helped to lower oxidative stress in the liver but had no effect on chemical-driven liver damage induced by overuse of Acetaminophen (a drug). The researchers called for further studies to investigate possible herb-drug interactions.
A medical lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr Francis Agbaraolorunpo, explained that the woman’s claim may not be regarded as a definitive cure but should not be entirely dismissed, as there could be cultural evidence to support it. The lecturer said scientific research is ongoing to enhance knowledge and available evidence.
He explained that he was recently part of a team that carried out research on lemongrass. The team discovered that the plant has the potential to reduce heart-related deaths in animals.
Francis noted that the combination, as advised by the claimant, might simply have an ameliorating effect by reducing problems such as oxidative stress and inflammation but not necessarily cure the disease.
He told DUBAWA that lemongrass alone contains about 18 metabolites, and scientific research aims to extract the specific metabolite that is safe for use. He noted that using all 18 metabolites together could potentially alter the body’s physiology.
“Hepatitis are viruses. Hepatitis can cause inflammation in the liver; if it is progressive, it can affect the liver. Now the question is, is the combination the claimant asked people to use aiming at the virus? Or is protecting the liver meant to up the protective mechanism of the liver? If you take everything, you may take everything that may cancel the effect of one. Science maximises the benefit and potential of a particular metabolite,” he explained.
The lecturer said that while concoction (stone breaker leaf and lemongrass) might have the potential to slow down liver damage caused by inflammation and oxidative stress, the method of preparation is crucial. Extracting the active components that protect the liver must be done without harming other organs.
According to him, research shows that lemongrass can protect both the heart and the liver, but the exact dosage and mechanism must be clearly defined and administered under controlled conditions to ensure safety and effectiveness for people with hepatitis.
He further explained that if it is not done in a controlled way, there would be mixed effects, with a lot of metabolites working together and the dosage may not be correct.
The scholar stated that there is a conventional management procedure for individuals with chronic hepatitis, which can lead to liver damage and failure. He emphasised the need for certain lifestyle changes in such cases. For instance, he said a person with liver disease should avoid abusing paracetamol, as medical science considers a patient’s medical history when prescribing treatment.
Francis also noted that the virus gets to a particular level before it can start causing damage, so doctors monitor the viral load and liver function. When the level is normal, the patient may not be treated; they only undergo monitoring, ensuring they avoid things that can harm the liver, like alcohol and other liver-toxic drugs.
He explained that traditional medicine often aims to provide herbs that protect the liver. However, he noted that if a particular herbal concoction has undergone scrutiny by NAFDAC, along with purification, preparation, and approval from other regulatory bodies overseeing traditional medicine, it may be considered safe for consumption.
From the above, people diagnosed with hepatitis disease of any type must visit the hospital for proper care.
Conclusion
Scientific studies have not clearly established stone breaker leaf and lemongrass as the cure for hepatitis infection. Also, research on the ameliorating effect of stone breaker leaf mostly targeted hepatitis B, not all forms of hepatitis, as the Facebook user claimed.
