Phyllanthin is a major bioactive lignan component of P. amarus with antioxidative and hepatoprotective properties. It scavenges DPPH radicals with an IC50 value of 7.4 μM and, at 30 μM, has been shown to alleviate carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation and cytotoxicity in a human hepatoma HepG2 cell line.