A natural pigment used for centuries in henna art may soon find a place in medicine. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan, have discovered that lawsone which is the reddish-orange dye extracted from henna (Lawsonia inermis), could help reverse liver fibrosis, one of the most serious consequences of chronic liver disease.
Liver fibrosis occurs when repeated injury triggers specialized liver cells, known as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), to produce excess scar tissue. Over time, this scarring disrupts normal liver function and can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or cancer. Despite affecting an estimated 3–4% of the global population, effective antifibrotic treatments have remained limited.
The Osaka research team screened several natural compounds before identifying lawsone as a potent inhibitor of fibrosis. In laboratory tests, lawsone was found to suppress the activation of HSCs and reduce key fibrotic markers such as YAP, α-SMA, and collagen type I. It also enhanced the liver’s natural antioxidant defense by increasing cytoglobin expression.
In mouse models, lawsone treatment improved liver tissue structure, suggesting that it might not only stop fibrosis from progressing but could also help reverse existing damage. Researchers are now developing targeted drug delivery systems to direct lawsone precisely to activated HSCs, increasing efficacy and minimizing side effects.
While still in the preclinical stage, the discovery offers hope for future liver repair therapies. From a cosmetic dye to a potential life-saving medicine, henna’s healing pigment may soon mark a breakthrough in global liver care.
