Natural products in pursuing novel therapies of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) are hepatic manifestations of systemic metabolic dysfunction, which affect one-quarter of the adult population worldwide as estimated, and exhibit high risk in progressing to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current drug discovery focuses on modifying homeostasis of lipids, carbohydrates, and cholesterol, as well as inhibiting inflammation and fibrogenesis. Many natural products show promising activities on various molecular targets involving these mechanisms; however, they have not been fully exploited. Since some compounds are components of healthy food, they may be employed in chemoprevention as adjuvants to lifestyle modification, while natural products such as alkaloids and sesquiterpenoids could serve as promising starting points for structural modifications and deserve further development.

Automated summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) are liver diseases caused by systemic metabolic dysfunction, affecting a significant portion of the global adult population and posing high risks of progression to serious liver conditions. Current drug discovery focuses on modifying metabolic processes and inhibiting inflammation and fibrosis, with potential in natural compounds that have not been fully explored. Compounds found in healthy food could be used as adjuvants to lifestyle changes, while natural products like alkaloids and sesquiterpenoids show promise for further development through structural modifications.