Medicinal Plants Vol. 15 (1), March 2023, 13-25 *Corresponding author e-mail: ashobha75@gmail.com doi : 10.5958/0975-6892.2023.00004.7 Review Article Hepato and Nephroprotective effects of six important medicinal plants against toxic oxidative stress Savithri Ganta, Shobha Rani Amuru*, Suvarna Latha Anchapakula, Shanthi Sree Kolaru Subramanyam, Syeda Fakrunnisa Begum, Hemavathi Buddareddy, Vijaya Kumari Nelaballe, Sujathamma Pallampalli and Bharathi Depuru Department of Biosciences and Sericulture, S.P. Mahila Visvavidyalayam (Women’s University), Tirupati-517502, Andhra Pradesh, India Received: October 13, 2022; Accepted: November 30, 2022 ABSTRACT In the current scenario, consumption of adulterated food, junk food, excessive usage of allopathic medicines, exposure to toxic chemicals and sedentary lifestyle are the primary reasons for the failure of liver and kidney due to oxidative stress. Ayurveda, Indian traditional medicine is becoming popular in view of its safety, no side effects and low cost. Therefore, plant-based medical research has increased all over the world. The plant therapy reduces the oxidative stress in the liver and kidney of experimental animals, the stress induced by toxic chemicals. The supplement of plant extracts either in single or in a combination of various herbal extracts improves the activity of the antioxidative enzymes, reduces the stress markers, normalizes the biochemical parameters and the liver and kidney function. The hepato and nephroprotective ethno- pharmacological activities of six medicinal plants like Phyllanthus niruri, Solanum xanthocarpum, polyalthia cerasoides, Acalypha indica, Tinospora cordifolia and Nigella sativa are discussed in the paper. Keywords: Liver, kidney, toxic chemicals, antioxidants, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective role INTRODUCTION The liver is the most important organ and a major site for the regulation of metabolic mechanisms in the body. It has a variety of important functions and has the powerful ability to detoxify and synthesize useful ingredients. The liver is the major detoxicant center and primary check post of the body. The liver detoxifies the toxicants enters into the body and these metabolized toxicants are later released via urine by the kidneys (Taamalli et al., 2020; Adam et al., 2016; Tekuri et al., 2019a). The kidneys are major homeostasis organs and play a vital role in eliminating the excretory products (urea and ammonia), so that both liver and renal organs maintain a constant acid base balance in the body (Tekuri et al., 2019a; Weiner et al., 2015). In the present days the increased oxidative stress conditions are leading to enhancement of liver and kidney organ impairment cases as these organs are sensitive to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress rises, when exposed to environmental pollution or toxic metals or substances. Due to increasing environmental pollution, the percentage of toxic elements in the air, water and soil is increasing. Among these toxic elements, heavy metals are ubiquitous in the earth’s crust and they cause serious adverse effects on all living things. Modern lifestyle