The Therapeutic Effects of Active Components from Food-Medicine Plants on Liver Fibrosis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Caiyun Sun,1 Binlong Chen,1 Yaodong Hu,1 Silu Wang,1 Ting Chen,1 Min Xu,2 Qianyuan Gong3 1College of Animal Science, Xichang University, Xichang, 615013, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, People’s Republic of China; 3Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qianyuan Gong, Email [email protected]: Liver fibrosis, a chronic progression process of liver disease in which various factors damage the liver, leading to the development of liver inflammation and eventually progressing to liver cirrhosis. Food-medicine plants, which serve dual roles in nutrition and therapy, play a significant role in the management of chronic diseases, particularly within minority communities and developing regions. This review systematically examines the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds derived from food-medicine plants—such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and terpenoids—in mitigating liver fibrosis. These compounds exert their effects through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of key signaling pathways such as TGF-β, PI3K/Akt, ferroptosis, and Wnt/β-catenin. Additionally, they enhance antioxidant enzyme activity, suppress pro-fibrotic mediators, and reduce fibrosis-related biomarkers. Overall, this work underscores the multifaceted mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of food-medicine plant products. Nevertheless, further clinical validation is necessary to translate these preclinical insights into effective therapies, thereby providing a foundation for future research and drug development in the management of liver fibrosis.Keywords: liver fibrosis, liver inflammation, food-medicine plants, bioactive compounds
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7120447947
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: