A Systematic Review on Important Risk Factors and Possible Involved Mechanisms of Medicinal Plants on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Author: mycolabadmin
2/28/2025
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Summary

This comprehensive review examined 43 medicinal plants that can help prevent and treat fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is increasingly common in developed countries. Most of these plants work by reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, helping with weight management, improving blood sugar control, and lowering blood pressure. The plants contain natural compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver. Using these herbal supplements alongside other lifestyle changes may offer a promising natural approach to managing NAFLD and its related conditions.

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in industrialized countries, often associated with metabolic syndrome risk factors including hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Chemical drugs for NAFLD treatment are rarely effective and may cause significant complications. Medicinal plants with antioxidant properties and multiple mechanisms have shown high preventive and therapeutic potential.

Objective

This systematic review aimed to identify effective medicinal plants and determine their mechanisms of action on NAFLD and its major risk factors (hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes type 2, and hypertension). The study sought to establish the molecular and genetic mechanisms by which herbal medicines could prevent and treat NAFLD.

Results

Among 43 identified effective plants, 33 were found to affect all four risk factors, eight affected three factors, and two affected two factors. The mechanisms included decreasing LDL, VLDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol while increasing HDL; reducing body weight and appetite; improving insulin sensitivity; and providing diuretic and antihypertensive effects through ACE inhibition and endothelial function improvement.

Conclusion

Herbal medicine supplements combined with other therapeutic approaches may provide feasible strategies for NAFLD patients. Identification of medicinal plants and their effective mechanisms could lead to lower disease incidence and development of new potent herbal drugs targeting each risk factor of NAFLD.

Published in:Advanced Biomedical Research (Adv Biomed Res),
Study Type:Systematic Review,
Source: PMID: 40213587, DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_94_23