Chronic liver inflammation has become a major global health concern. In the absence of clinical surrogate markers to diagnose inflammatory liver disease, the intervention with effective drugs in modern medicine tends to be late. In Sri Lanka, traditional medical practitioners prescribe herbal preparations from Osbeckia octandra for the prevention and treatment of liver disorders.

Osbeckia octandra, the eight stamen osbeckia, is a plant species in the genus Osbeckia of the family Melastomataceae. It is considered to be endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is known as “Heen Bovitiya – හීන් බෝවිටියා”