ABSTRACT
Hepatic and renal injuries caused by different pathways involving various external or internal stimuli factors are considered as one of the major reasons for morbidity and mortality. Present medications used for various hepatic and renal impairments cause serious side effects and toxicities. Alternatively, natural products, mainly essential oils (EOs), can be used to treat various hepatic and renal impairments. EOs offer protective effects via reducing oxidative stress, modulating the genetic expression of certain proteins (e.g. uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases and sulfotransferases, CYP 2E1, etc.), also modulate certain molecular pathways (such as inflammatory, lipogenesis, and oxidative), and affect the level of biochemical markers (such as antioxidant enzymes). Also, EOs have been known for their capability in improving the effects of main course medication by showing synergetic and additive effects. In addition EOs have been reported for their effects in preventing mitochondrial damage, ER damage, DNA damage, and protein adducts formulation to prevent cellular injury. This chapter discusses the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of EOs.
