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In Vitro Modeling of Fat Deposition in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
07:03

In Vitro Modeling of Fat Deposition in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Published on: July 19, 2024

TCM-Derived Natural Compounds Targeting the Gut Microbiota in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver

Huailin Deng1, Ruiqiu Zhang2

  • 1Graduate School of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China.

Metabolites
|May 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Chinese herbal monomers show promise for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by improving gut health and inflammation. Further research is needed to clarify their long-term safety and clinical application for MASLD.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Integrative Medicine

Background:

  • Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is linked to gut microbiota imbalance and gut-liver axis dysfunction.
  • Chinese herbal monomers offer multi-target benefits for MASLD, particularly in microecological intervention.
  • Toxicity and safety research for these monomers lag, hindering clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the toxicological perspective of Chinese herbal monomers in treating MASLD.
  • To analyze their mechanisms including gut microbiota modulation, barrier repair, and metabolic regulation.
  • To discuss limitations and translational bottlenecks for clinical application.

Main Methods:

  • Review of research on flavonoids, triterpenoids, alkaloids, and polysaccharides.
  • Analysis of toxicological data and mechanisms of action.
  • Integration of multi-omics approaches (16S rRNA, metagenomics, metabolomics).

Main Results:

  • Herbal monomers reshape gut microbiota, repair intestinal barrier, and regulate SCFA/bile acid metabolism.
  • They modulate key signaling pathways (TLR4/NF-kB, FXR, TGR5, SIRT1, NLRP3 inflammasome).
  • A three-in-one advantage of microecological remodeling, metabolic regulation, and inflammation inhibition is evident.

Conclusions:

  • Chinese herbal monomers present a promising therapeutic strategy for MASLD.
  • Further research is crucial to address long-term safety, dose-effect relationships, and drug interactions.
  • Clarifying toxicological profiles is essential for successful clinical translation.
Keywords:
TCM-derived natural compoundsgut microbiotagut-liver axismetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseasetoxicological safety

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