## 1 Introduction  
Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a life-threatening chronic liver infection and is one of the major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for 70-90% of all primary liver cancers. HCC is the sixth most common cancer worldwide with a significant mortality rate and is projected to increase by 40% by 2030 [1; 2]. Currently, more than 248 million individuals worldwide are living with chronic HBV infection. Africa has the most elevated endemicity with 8.83% of HBsAg prevalence. About 95 million people in China have chronic HBV infection [3]. India is meso-endemic for HBV and is the second leading country after China to have about 50 million individuals with chronic HBV infection with an overall prevalence rate of 2.4% (2.2-2.7%) and a much higher rate of 15.9% (11.4-20.4%) among the tribal population [4]. Multiple studies, such as the accumulation of genetic damage due to immune-mediated hepatic inflammation and chronic hepatic oxidative stress, established a robust correlation between chronic HBV infection and the progression to HCC [5; 6; 7]. Moreover, HCC mediated by HBV is a polygenic disease that involves multi-protein, multi-pathway pathogenesis. HBV viral proteins alter the expression of endogenous genes within the host tissue. In the hepatocytes, HBV-mediated cytokine production by pro-inflammatory reactions and T-cell dysfunction as well as inflammation-mediated up- and downregulation of signaling pathways enhance the development of viral carcinogenesis and ultimately lead to HCC. Further, Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor (NF)-kB play key roles in the regulation of communication between cancer cells and inflammatory cells, which further aids in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis. However, HBV-mediated activation of these two pathways promotes immune escapes, production of interleukin IL-6, and IL-22, and ultimately progresses to the development of HCC [8; 9]. The HBV X Interacting Protein (HBXIP) is a transcriptional transactivator that controls the transcription of viral nucleic acid and cellular promotion, i.e., it mediates cell cycle regulatory proteins including p16, p21, p27, cyclin A, D1, and B1, promoting CDK2 activity [10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15]. HBx regulates HBV replication and plays a crucial role in the development of HCC. The correlation between HBV-mediated HCC is well established. However, the molecular mechanism is not well understood, because post HBV infection, multiple cascades are involved in HCC development. In addition, numerous scientific reports suggest that the major cause of HCC is due to continuous hepatocyte destruction and regeneration [16]. Since ancient times, herbs and herbal products have been widely utilized as therapeutics for various infectious diseases. Herbs are known to prevent viral infections, delay or arrest the progression or extend the latency period by acting as an agonist, antagonistic, or synergistic via modulating multi-proteins and multi-pathways associated with the disease pathogenesis [17]. Although the use of herbs against specific etiologies such as HBV infection and its associated HCC is not adequately documented, attempts are being continuously made to evaluate if traditionally used herbs could be used against these specific etiologies by a screening of its use against signs and symptoms resembling the disease. In the current study, we identified 16 herbs from the Western Ghats region that are traditionally utilized by the local traditional practitioners against conditions that represent viral infection, fever, inflammation, and jaundice, which are documented in earlier studies by the ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, India. These herbs include _Achyranthessera_ L., _Aerva lamata_ (L). Juss. ex [PERSON], _Aloe vera_ (L.) Burm. f., _Andrographis paniculata_ (Burm.f.) [PERSON], _Cassia auriculata_ (L.) [PERSON], _Centella asatica_ (L.) [PERSON], _Diospyros Montana_ [PERSON], _Leucas aspera_ (Wild.)