Prospects of hepatoprotective effect of sesquiterpene lactone absintin

Liver and gallbladder diseases are among the most common in the world today. Liver disorders occupy one of the most important places in the picture of general human pathology, having a fairly high risk of developing adverse complications. Preparations and biologically active additives based on Artemisia absinthium and the components extracted from it have recently become very popular. The group of sesquiterpene lactones is of the greatest interest to researchers. The object of this review article is to analyze domestic and foreign publications showing the pharmacological activity and prospects of using absinthin, which is part of the group of sesquiterpene lactones of A. absinthium, as a hepatoprotector. An analysis of the literature revealed that absinthin has an antitoxic effect, reduces lipid peroxidation in liver tissues and restores the activity of protective antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) to a normal level. The generalization of literature data showing the pharmacological effect of the substance indicates the ability of absinthin to reduce the level of toxic effects of fatty acids and cholesterol on hepatocytes. It was also revealed that absinthin is able to have an antiproliferative effect on human adenocarcinoma cells. The positive effect observed when using absinthin characterizes the prospects of its practical application as a drug or biologically active additive with hepatoprotective and antitumor effect.