REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol., 04 November 2021

Sec. Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Pharmacology

Volume 12 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.771459

The Potential Application of Chinese Medicine in Liver Diseases: A New Opportunity

  • KF

    Ke Fu

  • CW

    Cheng Wang

  • CM

    Cheng Ma

  • HZ

    Honglin Zhou

  • YL

    Yunxia Li *

  • State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China

Article metrics

View details

43

Citations

11,5k

Views

5,3k

Downloads

Abstract

Liver diseases have been a common challenge for people all over the world, which threatens the quality of life and safety of hundreds of millions of patients. China is a major country with liver diseases. Metabolic associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus and alcoholic liver disease are the three most common liver diseases in our country, and the number of patients with liver cancer is increasing. Therefore, finding effective drugs to treat liver disease has become an urgent task. Chinese medicine (CM) has the advantages of low cost, high safety, and various biological activities, which is an important factor for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. This review systematically summarizes the potential of CM in the treatment of liver diseases, showing that CM can alleviate liver diseases by regulating lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota, as well as exerting anti-liver injury, anti-oxidation, and anti-hepatitis virus effects. Among them, Keap1/Nrf2, TGF-β/SMADS, p38 MAPK, NF-κB/IκBα, NF-κB-NLRP3, PI3K/Akt, TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways are mainly involved. In conclusion, CM is very likely to be a potential candidate for liver disease treatment based on modern phytochemistry, pharmacology, and genomeproteomics, which needs more clinical trials to further clarify its importance in the treatment of liver diseases.

Introduction

Chinese medicine (CM) is an effective drug treatment system with a history of thousands of years. It is used for disease prevention, treatment and diagnosis. CM is characterized by individualized adjustment of multiple components and multiple targets, which makes the body change from an abnormal state to a normal state (Wang et al., 2018). It has made an indelible contribution to human health and is considered a potential natural source of therapeutic drugs (Hesketh and Zhu, 1997; Chan and Ng, 2020). For example, Tu won the 2015 Nobel Prize for discovering and developing artemisinin in Artemisia annua Linn. It is a clear example to prove the therapeutic potential of CM and is of great significance to the continued development of the field (Tu, 2016). Besides, this field has huge and undeveloped resources. Screening and providing effective monomer chemicals are important means of CM to promote the development of medicine in the world (Wang et al., 2018).

Liver diseases are serious diseases threatening the whole human health, mainly including metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), chronic viral hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections), autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic schistosomiasis, drug-induced liver injury, liver cirrhosis (LC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and so on (Li, Q. et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2014). China has the highest incidence of liver diseases in the world, and about 300,000–400,000 people die from various liver diseases each year. According to the data, MAFLD, HBV and ALD are the three most common liver diseases in China, with the incidence of 49.3, 22.9 and 14.8% respectively (Wang et al., 2014).

At present, CM has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of liver diseases, such as Rheum palmatum L. (Jin et al., 2005; Yang et al., 2012; Neyrinck et al., 2017), Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Alaca et al., 2017; Jindal et al., 2019), and Sophora flavescens Ait. (Yang et al., 2018; Yim et al., 2019). Furthermore, liver diseases are various, and the course of each disease is also different. Fortunately, CM can effectively treat a variety of liver diseases, and it has played an important role in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. For example, Zingiber officinale and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer can effectively treat ALD and MAFLD (Jung et al., 2016; Kandeil et al., 2019), and Rhizoma Coptidis can be used in the treatment of hepatitis virus (Hung et al., 2018). For more serious liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, Salvia offificinalis L. and Portulaca oleracea L. have shown good effects (Guoyin et al., 2017; Jiang, Y. et al., 2017). Besides, according to relevant records, the variety of CM commonly used in the treatment of liver diseases is up to 90 kinds (Wu, 2001). It can be seen that the resources of CM for the treatment of liver diseases are rich and valuable, which is worthy of further research and development.

In this review, we collected relevant literature in recent 6 years (2015–2020) through CNKI, PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google academic, and analyzed the application, toxicology and clinical data of CM and their related compounds, aiming to dig out more CM with potential biological activities for liver diseases, and promote their application value in the treatment of liver diseases, further providing relevant reference for the clinical application CM.

Characteristics of Several Important Liver Diseases

The Three Most Common Liver Diseases in China

MAFLD

MAFLD is a clinical syndrome characterized by hepatocyte steatosis and increased lipid deposition with the exception of alcohol and other clear liver-damaging factors (Mantovani et al., 2019). It is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome (Younossi, 2019). MAFLD is a broad umbrella term for a range of liver disorders, from non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is called NAFL if it is only steatosis (fatty liver) and NASH if there is severe inflammation and liver cell damage (steatohepatitis). The course of MAFLD is complex and variable, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer in severe cases (Friedman et al., 2018).

The pathogenesis of MAFLD mainly includes abnormal lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genetic determinants (Buzzetti et al., 2016). Abnormal lipid metabolism in hepatocytes is the initial factor for MAFLD. When the number of fatty acids entering the liver is greater than their oxidation and secretion, the lipid accumulates in the liver, resulting in hepatic lipid deposition (Onyekwere et al., 2015), which leads directly to MAFLD. Furthermore, excessive lipid deposition further aggravates tissue damage by promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a series of pathological changes, such as the peroxidation of cells themselves, the release of pro-inflammatory factors and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, damaged hepatocytes activate the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway, thus inducing the production of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β/-6 (IL-1β, IL-6) (Buzzetti et al., 2016; Xiao et al., 2020). These inflammatory factors can not only induce the activation of astrocytes and the remodeling of cell matrix, but also accelerate the progression of the disease by promoting insulin resistance. In addition, MAFLD is strongly associated with gut microbes, some of which carry genes that ferment dietary sugars into ethanol. When released into the bloodstream, they will increase oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver. In the liver, alcohol dehydrogenase metabolizes ethanol into toxic acetaldehyde, which forms adducts with proteins and other molecules in the cell because of its electrophilic properties, resulting in the loss of hepatocyte structure and function (Kolodziejczyk et al., 2019).

HBV Infection

HBV, a part of the Hepadnaviridae family, consists of nucleocapsid, envelope, and three complete membrane proteins (Seitz et al., 2007), which is a partially double-stranded and non-cytopathic DNA virus. The virus replicates the DNA by reverse transcription of the pre-RNA genome and has many serological markers such as HBsAg and anti-HBs, HBeAg and anti-HBe, and anti-HBc IgM and IgG (Trépo et al., 2014; Hu and Liu, 2017). HBV is the most common chronic virus in the world. Infected cells produce covalently closed circular DNA intermediates and integrated sequences that act as transcription templates for viral proteins (Fanning et al., 2019). HBV is transmitted through a number of routes, but mainly in the form of blood and body fluids, including perinatal and mother-to-child transmission, as well as sexual and extraintestinal patterns (Yuen et al., 2018).

At present, vaccination is still the most effective tool to prevent HBV infection, but there are also other therapeutic approaches, such as antiviral drugs that directly act on virus replication (interferon) and immune modulators (including reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, primarily a nucleoside or nucleotide analogue) (Yuen et al., 2018). These treatments can effectively inhibit HBV replication, but the disadvantages are the long-term medication and side effects. In addition, HBV infection can lead to chronic hepatitis and a series of complications, and studies have shown that HBV may persist in the body even after the infected person has fully recovered (Rehermann et al., 1996; Shi and Zheng, 2020). If immunosuppression-mediated host immune control is weakened, or several therapies and drugs have a direct effect on HBV replication, HBV may be reactivated (Shi and Zheng, 2020). Therefore, it is urgent to find a more effective HBV therapy to ensure the health of all human beings.

ALD

ALD refers to hepatocyte necrosis and destruction of normal liver function under the action of ethanol for a long time, which is a series of liver diseases including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and its complications (such as ascites, portal hypertension-related bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and HCC) (Singal et al., 2018). The disease initially presents as alcoholic fatty liver disease, then gradually develops into alcoholic cirrhosis, even extensive hepatocyte necrosis, eventually inducing liver failure (Penny, 2013; Hu et al., 2019).

Sustained large quantity of alcohol stimulation is the primary factor of ALD. The pathogenesis is complicated and varied, mainly related to genetics, oxidative stress, hepatic steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and so on (2018). There is some evidence that aldehyde dehydrogenase2*2 and alcohol dehydrogenase 1B*3 alleles are closely related to alcoholic liver disease, and they can have some kind of chemical reaction with alcohol to achieve rapid metabolism (Agrawal and Bierut, 2012; Dodge et al., 2014); transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 gene mutation can lead to the accumulation of liver fat, so that the disease will develop into a bad situation (2018); patatinlike phospholipase domain-containing protein 3, which mediates triglyceride hydrolysis in adipocytes, is closely related to lipid metabolism in the liver, but the mechanism of how it affects ALD is unclear (Salameh et al., 2015; BasuRay et al., 2017). At the same time, membrane-bound O-acetyltransferase domain-containing protein 7 is also an important genetic material related to ALD, but its mechanism is not clear (2018).

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ALD. In biological systems, free radicals include oxygen free radicals and nitrogen free radicals, among which oxygen free radicals and non-free radicals such as hypochlorite and ozone are called ROS. Under normal circumstances, the body contains antioxidants (such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, heme oxygenase bilirubin etc.) and ROS in a state of balance, which are not harmful to the human body (Li et al., 2015). But in the case of long-term alcohol abuse, the reduction in the level or activity of antioxidants in the body causes oxidative stress. Alcohol may also increase the level of ROS. For example, ROS and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) are produced when ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver. Acetaldehyde is oxidized to acetic acid in mitochondria, which stimulates the body to produce large amounts of ROS (Li et al., 2014). NADH also interferes with the mitochondrial electron transport system and promotes ROS production (Ceni et al., 2014). Alcohol can also activate the NAD (P) H oxidase in hepatocytes, leading to an increase in the production of superoxide (Kalyanaraman, 2013). There is also evidence that another important pathophysiological mechanism of ALD is the interaction between endotoxin and Kupffer cells (KCs). Long-term high alcohol intake can induce low levels of intestinal endotoxemia, and increase intestinal permeability, causing Gram-negative bacteria to enter the hepatic portal circulation to suppress immune function (Mello et al., 2008; Gao and Liu, 2016). KCs recognize and clear gut-derived endotoxins, and promote oxidative stress and inflammatory response through their interaction (Yang and Wei, 2017).

Other Liver Diseases

HCV Infection

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by HCV. HCV is an RNA virus, 45–65 nm in diameter, encapsulated in a lipid bilayer, belonging to the Flaviviridae family (Manns et al., 2017). HCV enters its target cells by a variety of host factors, including CD81, low-density lipoprotein receptor, dendritic cell-specific ICAM-grabbing non-integrin, claudin-1, and occludin. Among the different types of liver diseases, HCV is unique in requiring liver specific microRNA-122 replication (Luna et al., 2015). In addition, the genotypes of HCV are very rich. By the culture, analysis and identification of HCV strains isolated from all parts of the world, seven major HCV genotypes were found, namely 1–7 (Manns et al., 2017). Genotype 1 is the most prevalent in the world, including 83.4 million cases (46.2% of all HCV cases), about a third of which are in East Asia. Genotype 3 ranks second in the world (54.3 million, 30.1%), genotype 2, 4 and 6 account for 22.8% of all cases, and genotype 5 accounts for less than 1% of the remaining cases (Messina et al., 2015).

HCV transmission is most commonly associated with direct percutaneous exposure to blood via blood transfusions, health-care-related injections, and injecting drug use (Spearman et al., 2019). Alcohol is also a common cofactor for HCV infection, and alcohol use is more strongly associated with the progression of liver fibrosis (Poynard et al., 1997). Secondly, HCV infection can induce the abnormal expression of two host microRNAs (miR-208b and miR-499a-5p) encoded by myosin genes in hepatocytes. MiR-208b and miR-499a-5p inhibit type I IFN signal transduction in infected hepatocytes by directly down-regulating type I IFN receptor expression (Jarret et al., 2016). In addition, chronic HCV infection can also lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and other serious complications.

LC

LC is a pathological stage characterized by diffuse fibrosis, pseudolobules formation, and intrahepatic and extrahepatic vascular proliferation (He and Liu, 2021). It is one of the main causes of death in patients with liver diseases all over the world, and also the final result of the development of a variety of acute and chronic liver diseases. LC shows symptoms such as portal hypertension and liver dysfunction. At present, the diagnosis of LC mainly depends on the imaging of irregular nodular liver by ultrasound, CT or MRI and the evaluation of liver synthesis function. In clinical practices, LC is considered as an end-stage manifestation of liver pathology with a high mortality without liver transplantation treatment (Tsochatzis et al., 2014; Zhou et al., 2014). But liver transplantation requires a lot of ligands and money, which is not an easy thing to solve, so CM has become a more effective approach.

The pathological pathway of LC is very complicated, but the research has shown that it is closely related to the expression of some cells on the wall of hepatic sinus. Hepatic sinus walls are composed of three kinds of non-parenchymal cells (liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), KCs and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)), which are involved in the development of LC (Zhou et al., 2014). In non-diseased liver, HSCs are located in the subendothelial space of Disse and are primarily involved in the storage of retinoic acid, but HSC is activated in the area of liver injury (Friedman, 1993; Hernandez-Gea and Friedman, 2011). In this activated phenotype, HSC is the main source of collagen and non-collagen matrix proteins in fibrosis. Related studies have shown that LSECs can secrete the cytokine IL-33 to activate HSCs and promote fibrosis (Marvie et al., 2010). Secondly, the exfoliation and capillarization of LSECs were proved to be the main contributing factors of liver dysfunction in cirrhosis (Yokomori et al., 2012). Finally, KCs can mediate liver inflammation to aggravate liver damage and fibrosis (López-Navarrete et al., 2011). Cytokines such as platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), TNF-α, and Interferon also play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (Zhou et al., 2014). It is worth mentioning that if a patient has been diagnosed with ALD, concomitant chronic hepatitis B or C infection will directly aggravate the liver injury, leading to more frequent and rapid occurrence of cirrhosis (Poynard et al., 1997).

HCC

HCC is the most common form of liver cancer, accounting for 90% of the total cases of liver cancer. Among the various chronic liver diseases, HCC is the final stage of the disease in some patients with LC. About 80% of HCC patients have the pathological basis of LC, and the rate of HCC in patients with cirrhosis disease base in the short-term can be 5–30% (El-Serag, 2012). HBV and HCV are major risk factors for the development of HCC (Llovet et al., 2021). Others include exposure to aflatoxin, excessive drinking, smoking, diabetes, and knowledge of other risk factors such as MAFLD has been gradually recognized (Forner et al., 2012; Forner et al., 2018). The high incidence of HCC is concentrated in developing countries such as China, mainly due to chronic HBV infection (Jemal et al., 2011). Until now, there has been no nationwide cancer screening in China. Once a patient develops HCC, not only does the patient face tremendous pain from radiation therapy, but the improvement in survival rates is very limited, if more potential anti-cancer drugs can be tapped from the CM system, it will be beneficial to HCC patients.

Figure 1 is a map of the major pathogenesis of some important liver diseases.

FIGURE 1

Pharmacological Effects of CM for Management of Liver Disease

There are abundant varieties of natural CM resources in China, which is worthy of further development and utilization. For example, Figure 2 only shows the distribution of some CM for liver disease in the main producing area (also named “Daodi” producing area). Among them, many of the common CM have shown anti-liver disease activity, seeTable 1. In addition, the pharmacological effects of CM on liver disease are summarized in Figure 3.

FIGURE 2

TABLE 1

NoLatin nameEnglish nameFamilyUsed partTypes of liver diseases that can be treated recorded in the standardReported biological activities associated with liver diseases
1Rheum palmatum LRhei Radix et RhizomaPolygonaceaeRoot and rhizomeDamp-heat jaundicea; Acute infectious hepatitisbRegulating gut microbiota Neyrinck et al. (2017), protective effect on high fat diet-induced hepatosteatosis, α-naphthylisothiocyanate induced liver injury and diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma El-Saied et al. (2018); Yang et al. (2012); Yang et al. (2016a), anti-hepatic fibrosis Jin et al. (2005)
Rheum offcinale Baill
Rheum tanguticum Maxim.ex Balf
2Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) DielsRadix Angelicae SinensisApiaceaeRootBlood deficiency and chlorosisa; Syndrome of blood deficiencycAnti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress Mo et al. (2018)
3Silybum marianum (L.)GaertnHerba SilybiAsteraceaeWhole grass and acheneFruit and extract for liver disease and jaundiced; Fatty liver, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosisc; Acute or chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, metabolic toxic liver injurybProtective effect on liver injury caused by cholestasis Alaca et al. (2017), protective effect against hepatotoxicity caused by deltamethrin Jindal et al. (2019), anti-oxidative stress Egresi et al. (2020); Zhu.et al. (2018a), regulating lipid metabolism Feng et al. (2019)
4Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et KitHerba Artemisiae ScopariaeAsteraceaeAboveground partInfectious icteric hepatitisa,dAnti-hepatocellular carcinoma Jang et al. (2017); Jung et al. (2018); Kim et al. (2018); Yan et al. (2018)
Artemisia capillaris Thunb
5Gentiana scabra BungeGentianae Radix et RhizomaGentianaceaeRoot and rhizomeLiver channel is hot and jaundiced; Damp-heat jaundice, head distension and headache caused by liver and gallbladder excess firecAnti-hepatic fibrosis Qu et al. (2015), protective effect on liver injury caused by B19-NS1 Sheu et al. (2017)
6Bupleurum chinense DC.Radix BupleuriApiaceaeRootChest pain, irregular menstruationa,c,dProtective effect on liver injury caused by acetaminophen and D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide Wang et al. (2019a); Zou et al. (2018), anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory Jia et al. (2019), enhancing immune function Zou et al. (2019)
7Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et ZuccRhizoma Polygoni CuspidatiPolygonaceaeRoot and rhizomeDamp-heat jaundice, amenorrhea in womena,c,dregulating lipid metabolism, anti-oxidative stress, alleviating insulin resistance Kim. et al. (2020a); Zhao. et al. (2019a)
8Atractylodes macrocephala KoidzRhizomaAsteraceaeRhizomeJaundicedAnti-acute liver injury Han et al. (2016)
Atractylodis
Macrocephalae
9Scutellaria baicalensis GeorgiRadixLabiataeRootJaundicea; Headache due to liver fire, swelling and pain due to red eyes, damp-heat jaundicecRelieving endoplasmic reticulum stress Dong et al. (2016), anti-hepatocellular carcinoma Wang. et al. (2020a), anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory Park et al. (2017), anti-hepatic fibrosis Pan et al. (2015a)
Scutellariae
10Curcuma longa LRhizoma Curcumae LongaeZingiberaceaeRhizomeAmenorrhea of womena; Women with blood stasis and amenorrhead; Women have dysmenorrhea and amenorrheacRelieving endoplasmic reticulum stress Kim et al. (2017a), anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, protective effect on liver injury caused by CCl4, ethanol and methotrexate Lee. et al. (2017a); Moghadam et al. (2015); Uchio et al. (2017)
11Ligusticum chuanxiong HortRhizoma ChuanxiongApiaceaeRhizomeIrregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, chest painb,c,dAnti-hepatocellular carcinoma (Hu et al. 2015), protective effect against D-galactose-induced liver and kidney injury (Mo et al. 2017)
12Glycyrrhiza uralensis FischRadixLeguminosaeRootHepatitisbHepatoprotective activities against CCl4/alcohol -induced liver injury Jung et al. (2016); Lin et al. (2017), anti-oxidative stress Cao et al. (2017)
Glycyrrhiza inflata BatGlycyrrhizae
Glycyrrhiza glabra L
13Prunus persica (L.) BatschSemen PersicaeRosaceaeMature seedAmenorrhea, dysmenorrheaa,c,dAnti-hepatocellular carcinoma Shen et al. (2017), protective effect on liver injury caused by CCl4Rehman et al. (2021), anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory Kim. et al. (2017b); Lee et al. (2008)
Prunus davidiana (Carr.) Franch
14Sophora flavescens AitRadixLeguminosaeRootJaundicea,c,dAnti-hepatitis B virus Yang et al. (2018)
Sophorae Flavescentis
15Sophora tonkinensis GapnepRadix Sophorae TonkinensisLeguminosaeRoot and rhizomeJaundiceb,dregulating lipid metabolism, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory Zhao et al. (2020)
16Salvia miltiorrhiza BungeRadixLabiataeRoot and rhizomeIrregular menstruation, amenorrhea and dysmenorrheab,c,d; HepatosplenomegalybProtective effect on liver injury caused by paracetamol and lipopolysaccharide Gao et al. (2015); Zhou et al. (2015), anti-hepatocellular carcinoma Jiang et al. (2017b), anti-hepatic fibrosis Peng et al. (2018)
Salviae Miltiorrhizae
17Aloe barbadensis MillerAloeLiliaceaeThe liquid concentrate of plant leavesLiver heata; Liver fire, headache, red eyes, convulsionc; Liver meridian excess heat, dizziness, headache, tinnitus, irritability, constipationbHepatoprotective effect against cartap- and malathion induced toxicityGupta et al. (2019), anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant Klaikeaw et al. (2020)
Aloe ferox Miller
18Coptis chinensis FranchRhizoma CoptidisRanunculaceaeRhizomeLiver fire, red eyes, jaundice, disharmony between liver and stomacha; Liver fire, red eyes, swelling and paincAnti-hepatocellular carcinoma Auyeung and Ko. (2009); Lin et al. (2004); Ma et al. (2018a), anti-hepatitis C virus Hung et al. (2018), protective effect on liver injury caused by CCl4Ma. et al. (2018b)
Coptis deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao
Coptis teeta Wall
19Paeonia lactiflora PallRadixRanunculaceaeRootHypochondriac pain, blood deficiency and chlorosis, Irregular menstruationa; Chest and abdomen rib pain, irregular menstruationb,dImproving liver function, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant Wang. et al. (2020b)
Paeoniae Alba
20Paeonia lactiflora PallRadix Paeoniae RubraRanunculaceaeRootEye red swelling and pain, liver depression, hypochondriac pain, amenorrhea and dysmenorrheaa,cProtective effect on liver injury caused by cholestasis Ma et al. (2018a); Ma et al. (2015)
Paeonia veitchii Lynch
21Isatis indigotica FortFolium IsatidisBrassicaceaeleafJaundicea,c; Jaundice, acute infectious hepatitisd; Acute hepatitisbEnhancing the endogenous antioxidant system Ding and Zhu (2020)
22Isatis indigotica FortRadix IsatidisBrassicaceaeRootAcute and chronic hepatitisd; HepatitiscAlleviating insulin resistance Li et al. (2019b)
23Lycium barbarum LFructus LyciiSolanaceaefruitThe eyes are not cleara; Yin deficiency of liver and kidney, dizzinessc,dProtective effect against paracetamol-induced acute hepatotoxicity Gündüz et al. (2015), anti-hepatocellular carcinoma Ceccarini et al. (2016), Regulating the immune system Tan et al. (2019)

Some of the Chinese medicine used for the treatment of liver diseases are described in the standard and their biological activities.

a

Cited from “Chinese Pharmacopoeia.”

b

Cited from “Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian”.

c

Cited from “Zhong Hua Ben Cao”.

d

Cited from “Quan Guo Zhong Cao Yao Hui Bian”.

(Note: doctor of traditional Chinese medicine holds that the liver stores blood and the liver is a sea of blood).

FIGURE 3

Regulating Lipid Metabolism

Lipid uptake, esterification, oxidation, and fatty acid secretion all occur in hepatocytes. These processes are regulated by hormones, nuclear receptors, and transcription factors to maintain liver lipid homeostasis (Nguyen et al., 2008). If the balance of liver lipid metabolism is destroyed, the lipid will accumulate abnormally in the liver. Excessive lipid accumulation will lead to liver steatosis, insulin resistance and the development of fatty liver disease, and even induce oxidative stress, causing inflammation, cytotoxicity and aggravating liver injury. Therefore, maintaining normal lipid metabolism is an important function of the liver (Ding, H.-R. et al., 2018; Li, X. et al., 2019).

Many CMs have shown good effects in regulating lipid metabolism, such as Radix Bupleuri, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Rhubarb, Polygonum Multiflorum, Coptis Chinensis, Artemisia Annua, Flos Lonicera and Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis. The results showed that the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of c57BL/6 mice were reduced by Citrus reticulata Blanco peel extract. The author further revealed that 0.2 and 0.5% of the extract could effectively prevent the micro fatty degeneration and excessive accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver (Ke et al., 2020). Rheum Palmatum L. can continuously reduce the accumulation of excess fat and the expression of lipogenic genes in the liver of male Sprague-Dawley rats induced by a high-fat diet. Concomitantly, increased phosphorylation of adenine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylaze was observed (Yang, M. et al., 2016). In addition, Sophorae Tonkinensis water extract and Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb. extract alleviate nonalcoholic liver disease by enhancing hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A activity to promote fatty acids β-oxidation, and regulating the protein response to lipid metabolism and expression in the liver to reduce lipid accumulation (Jung et al., 2020; Zhao et al., 2020).

It is worth mentioning that relevant studies of hepatic lipid metabolism were also conducted in fish. Addition of 200–400 mg/kg Radix Bupleuri extract to the daily diet of hybrid grouper fish can reduce the expression of lipogenesis-related genes, such as diacylgycerol acyltransferase 2, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme 1 and diacylglycerol kinase alpha (Zou et al., 2019). Lonicera japonica extract can effectively reduce the levels of LDL-C, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the serum of grass carp as well as the expression of lipogenic genes acc1, fas, SREBP1 and PPARγ, and increase the expression of liposoluble genes CPT1, ATGL, LPL and PPARα (Meng et al., 2019).

Liver Injury

Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis belongs to chronic liver injury, mainly manifested as the accumulation of extracellular matrix (Tsuchida and Friedman, 2017), which is a dynamic process. Hepatocytes, activated hepatic stellate cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, and macrophages all participate in its establishment and regression (Campana and Iredale, 2017). Liver fibrosis is a pathological insult mainly caused by chronic liver disease (viral infection, alcoholic liver disease, NASH, etc). If not treated in time, it will continue to deteriorate and eventually progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer.

The TGF-β/Smads pathway plays an important role in the regulation of liver fibrosis. In the background of liver fibrosis, Smad3 and Smad4 are pro-fibrosis, while Smad2 and Smad7 are anti-fibrosis (Xu et al., 2016). Meanwhile, TGF-β is also activated by the deposits in the fibrous extracellular matrix, and expressed and released from a variety of cells (Dewidar et al., 2019). The evidence has shown that Forsythiae Fructuse water extract (FSE), Curcuma Wenyujin, and Zingiber Officinale can effectively inhibit the development of liver fibrosis through the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway (Hasan et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2020a; Xie et al., 2020).

Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza (RSM) is the dry root and rhizome of Labiatae plant Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge, whose main functions include removing blood stasis, relieving pain, activating blood circulation, clearing the heart, and removing trouble (Commission, 2015). It is widely used in the treatment of liver fibrosis in clinic, but the specific mechanisms are not clear. The recent study of Yuan et al. showed that RSM improved liver fibrosis by increasing the activity of natural killer (NK) cells as well as the effects of NKG2D and NKp46 on NK cells, and inhibiting the activation of HSCs in vivo and in vitro (Peng et al., 2018). Another study showed that the mixture of RSM extract and Astragalus Membranaceus extract at a ratio of 1:1 could regulate the expression of TGF-β1 and Cyclin D1 to improve liver fibrosis and the liver functions, especially having a good effect on reducing the cyclin D1 expression (Cao et al., 2020). In addition, many CM have anti-fibrosis activities. For example, Gentiana Scabra bage inhibits fibrosis by reducing the expression of hepatic type I and type III collagen proteins in rats (Qu et al., 2015). Ginkgo biloba is also a common CM mainly used in coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and hyperlipidemia (Commission, 2015). Wang et al. found that Ginkgo biloba extract could improve liver fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation, HSC activation, and hepatocyte apoptosis, which may be related to the p38MAPK, NF-κB/IκBα, and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway (Wang et al., 2015).

Chemical Liver Injury

Chemical liver injury is mainly caused by alcohol, toxic chemicals, and drugs. As we all know, the liver has dual blood supply of hepatic artery and hepatic vein, which is the main detoxification organ of human body. The liver plays a core role in biotransformation and excretion of foreign compounds, so it is the main target of the adverse reactions of drugs and other heterologous organisms (Holt and Ju, 2010). Secondly, the liver is the initial contact site of alcohol, chemical toxic substances, and the oral drugs absorbed through the intestine, so it is vulnerable to chemical damage. At the same time, electrophilic compounds and free radicals are the intermediate products of many chemical substances after liver metabolism. These substances may change the structure and function of cell macromolecules, and even lead to the occurrence of liver cancer (Gu and Manautou, 2012).

At present, a variety of CM are widely used for chemical injuries. Both Schisandra Sphenanthera extract and Polygonatum Sibiricum water extract can regulate alcoholic liver injury in mice through the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant responsive element (ARE) signaling pathway (Wang, G. et al., 2021; Zeng et al., 2017). The liver damage caused by CCl4 can be alleviated by Curcuma longa L. extract and Prunus persica Seeds Extract, which is mainly related to inhibiting liver oxidative stress, and increasing the Nrf2 and NQO-1 levels, as well as reducing type Ⅲ collagen mRNA expression (Lee, G.-H. et al., 2017; Rehman et al., 2021). In addition, Hedyotis Diffusa water extract, Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort, and Panax ginseng can also be used to respectively relieve the chemical damage caused by hydrogen peroxide and D-galactose (Gao et al., 2016; Mo et al., 2017). It is worth mentioning that a large number of CM can also alleviate drug-induced liver injuries. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a commonly used drug in clinic, which is mainly used for cold-induced fever, headache, joint pain, neuralgia, migraine, dysmenorrhea, and so on. Lycium Barbarum extract can significantly improve paracetamol-induced apoptosis to protect the liver from chemical damage (Gündüz et al., 2015), and Isatidis Folium can enhance the endogenous antioxidant system and reduce paracetamol-induced liver damage in mice (Ding and Zhu, 2020). Ahmed et al. also found that Panax ginseng could be used as a hepatoprotective agent, which prevented cyclophosphamide (with immunosuppressive and anti-cancer potential)-induced liver injury by reducing the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and Caspase3 genes, as well as increasing the BCL-2 gene expression, and its liver-protective effect is better than vitamin E (Abdelfattah-Hassan et al., 2019).

Anti-oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is the main influencing factor of the pathogenesis of ALD and MAFLD. It has been briefly discussed in the previous content. When the level or activity of antioxidants in the human body is reduced, oxidative stress will occur. Due to the stimulation of external factors (such as alcohol), the body will produce a large amount of active oxygen, which is the key to the development of fatty liver into steatohepatitis. GSH is an endogenous antioxidant, which is widely present in animals. Excessive oxidative stress can cause GSH consumption and lead to the accumulation of ROS (Li, X. et al., 2019). In addition, cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) plays a key role in the generation of ROS, which is also induced by alcohol (Leung and Nieto, 2013). Calculus bovis is a commonly used CM for fever, faintness, stroke and phlegm. The evidence showed that calculus bovis could inhibit oxidative stress in hepatocytes by reducing ROS and increasing SOD content, thereby achieving the liver-protective effect on mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver. And curcuma longa hot water extract and zingiber officinale hydroalcoholic extract can reduce the level of GSH to protect the liver.

Nrf2 is an important redox-sensitive transcription factor, and controls the basic and induced expression of a series of antioxidant response element-dependent genes, which is beneficial to improve the body’s oxidative stress state, thus regulating the physiological and pathological consequences under oxidant exposure (Ma, 2013). Under normal physiological conditions, Nrf2 is locked in the cytoplasm by Keap1. But when the cells are attacked by ROS or electrophiles, Nrf2 will dissociate from Keap1 and quickly translocate into the nucleus, first forming a heterodimer with the small Maf protein, and then combining with the ARE, which finally transcribes and activates the expression of the antioxidant enzyme genes regulated by Nrf2 (Ho et al., 2012; Heiss et al., 2013). In addition, the signal pathways related to Nrf2 (such as Nrf2-Keap1 and Nrf2-ARE) in the oxidative stress system have been widely recognized, especially the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, which is an anti-stress mechanism inherited from our ancestors, as well as a defense system to maintain the homeostasis of the cells (Buendia et al., 2016; Bellezza et al., 2018). As reported, Polygonum Cuspidatum extract could reduce oxidative stress by targeting the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, and down-regulate the levels of sterol regulatory element bending protein 1, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl coenzyme alpha desaturase-1 to prevent hepatic lipid accumulation in fructose-fed rats (Zhao, X.-J. et al., 2019). Paeonia Lactiflora Pall. (PLP) can increase the expression of AKt, Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 and GCLC, and activate the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway to enhance the antioxidant system, thereby reducing ANIT-induced liver tissue damage (Ma et al., 2015). In addition, Citrus Reticulata Blanco peel extract, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis ethanol extract, and Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb. ethanolic extract can directly activate the Nrf2 to regulate the redox state of liver injury (Cao et al., 2017; Ke et al., 2020; Lin, E.-Y. et al., 2018). The details are showed in Figure 4.

FIGURE 4

Regulation of Bile Acid Metabolism

Bile acids (BAs) are important components of bile, which have the functions of regulating metabolism, endocrine and immune (Chávez-Talavera et al., 2017). The liver is the site of bile acid synthesis. The primary bile acids, such as cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, combine with glycine or taurine to form bound BAs, which are secreted into bile canaliculus through the transport proteins such as bile salt export pump and multidrug resistance associated protein 2, and are temporarily stored in the gallbladder and released through the bile duct. When BAs and other components of bile are discharged into the intestine together, they can promote the emulsification and absorption of dietary fat, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins. About 90–95% of BAs are reabsorbed in the ileum through apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter and ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT), and the remaining 5–10% of BAs are excreted in feces (Li and Chiang, 2014; Tripathi et al., 2018). BAs are the important physiological basis involved in the regulation of liver function and disease states. According to the data, the metabolism and inflammation related to obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and MAFLD are all regulated by BAs (Chávez-Talavera et al., 2017). Therefore, BAs’ normal synthesis, transportation and excretion are vital factors for the homeostasis.

Cholestasis means that the bile cannot flow from the liver to the duodenum, and its flow is decreased, which is characterized by the excessive accumulation of bile acids and other toxic compounds (Crocenzi et al., 2012). Excessive accumulation of bile acids in the liver may cause liver damage, liver fibrosis, and eventually liver failure and biliary cirrhosis (Padda et al., 2011). The study has shown that PLP can regulate glycocholic acid, taurocholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, L (D)-arginine, and L-tryptophan, and these metabolites are related to bile acid secretion and amino acid metabolism, which is concluded that bile acid metabolism may be involved in the therapeutic effects of PLP on cholestasis (Ma et al., 2016). Ma et al. further demonstrated that PLP could alleviate cholestasis by regulating the NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome and the PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways (Ma, X. et al., 2018; Ma et al., 2015). Another study showed that the ethanol extract of Schisandra Chinensis could significantly protect the mice from intrahepatic cholestasis induced by cholic acid (Zeng et al., 2016). In addition, Schisandra Chinensis extract can also enhance the excretion of bile acids from the serum and liver to the intestine and feces, and adjust the intestinal microorganisms disturbed by the external factors to achieve the protective effects on liver injury caused by cholestasis (Li, D.-S. et al., 2020).

Regulating the Immune System

Inhibition of Inflammatory Response

Inflammation is the basis of a variety of physiological and pathological processes, mainly induced by infection and tissue damage (Medzhitov, 2008). When natural antioxidants are out of balance, the free radicals produced by different organisms and environments can further lead to various inflammation-related diseases (Arulselvan et al., 2016). As we all know, there are many kinds of cytokines involved in the inflammatory response. For example, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 play a pro-inflammatory role, by contrary, TGF-β, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 can inhibit the occurrence and progress of inflammation. There is evidence that the inflammatory mechanisms of the liver are essential for maintaining the homeostasis of the tissues and organs. When the inflammatory mechanisms are out of balance, the hepatic pathological process will be drived, such as chronic infection, autoimmunity, and malignant tumor (Robinson et al., 2016). FSE, Gentianae Macrophyllae extract, and Aloe vera can reduce inflammatory liver injury by reducing the serum concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, and other cytokines (Zhao et al., 2017; Cui et al., 2019; Hu et al., 2020a; Klaikeaw et al., 2020). Moreover, Radix Bupleuri extract and Schisandra Sphenanthera extract can directly inhibit the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 to protect the liver (Chen et al., 2019; Jia et al., 2019). In addition, Angelica Sinensis Supercritical Fluid CO2 Extract can significantly inhibit D-galactose-mediated expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as iNOS, COX-2, IKBα, p-IκBα, and p65, protecting the liver and kidney tissues (Mo et al., 2018).

Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-NF-κB signaling pathway is a key pathway in the physiologic and biochemical reactions of diseases. It widely exists in various tissues and cells, which is one of the important signaling pathways that mediate the expression of inflammatory factors (Wu et al., 2017). As one of the important pathways associated with inflammatory response and hepatic fibrosis, its activation can lead to the release of downstream inflammatory factors and induce the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Hu et al. found that FSE could improve the inflammatory state of liver fibrosis through the TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway (Hu et al., 2020a). Jia et al. found that RBE could inhibit TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce H2O2-induced liver inflammation in tilapia (Jia et al., 2019). Another study showed that GME could also attenuate ALD by inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and p38 to inhibit the initiation of inflammation (Cui et al., 2019).

The molecular mechanisms of the CM alleviating liver diseases through inflammatory pathways are shown in Figure 4.

Enhancing Immune Function

Zou et al. found that adding 200–800 mg/kg RBE to the diet of hybrid grouper could effectively reduce the serum ALP, ALT, AST, and LDH contents. In addition, it could down-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related genes (caspase-9), and up-regulate the antioxidant genes (CAT) and immune-related genes (MHC2, IKKα, and TGF-β1) (Zou et al., 2019). Tan et al. reported that dietary supplementation of Lycium barbarum extract (0.50–2.00 g/kg) could effectively increase IL-10 and TGF-β1 mRNA levels in the liver of HFD-fed hybrid grouper (Tan et al., 2019). In addition, Ginkgo biloba extract not only improves the hepatic antioxidant status of HFD-fed hybrid grouper, and maintains normal liver histology and preserves liver function, but also up-regulates the expression of immune-related genes (MHC2 and TLR3) (Tan et al., 2018).

Hepatitis Virus

Some CM have inhibitory effects on hepatitis virus and can assist the treatment of patients with viral hepatitis. Some studies have shown that most of the terpenoids isolated from Flos Lonicerae can inhibit the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg, as well as the DNA replication of HBV (Ge et al., 2019). In addition, Yang et al. found that the methanolic extract of Rhizoma Coptidis could block the attachment of HCV and the entry/fusion with host cells, which effectively inhibited the infection of pseudoparticles of HCV in Huh-7.5 cells, and hindered the infection of several HCV genotypes (Hung et al., 2018).

Liver Cancer

Currently, Western medicine and therapies are the main treatment strategies for liver cancer, but the overall prognosis of liver cancer patients is still very poor. Under such circumstances, it is extremely urgent to find a better method for the treatment of liver cancer. CM contains abundant treatment resources and has been used for the prevention of liver cancer for thousands of years. In modern China, CM has also been proven to be an effective method for the treatment of liver cancer. However, the theory of CM prevention and treatment of liver cancer is more widely accepted in China than abroad (Liao et al., 2020). According to relevant data, most CM can show anti-liver cancer effects. Ethanol extract of root of Prunus Persica can significantly inhibit the migration of liver cancer HepG2 cells and the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases, MMP3 and MMP9. It is worth mentioning that it can also inhibit tumor growth in nude mice in vivo (Shen et al., 2017). Artemisia capillaris extract can inhibit the growth, migration and invasion of Huh7 and HepG2 liver cancer cells. This inhibitory effect is closely related to blocking the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (Yan, Honghua et al., 2018). Jiang et al. further found that the anti-liver cancer effect of Artemisia capillaris extract is also related to the inhibition of the IL-6/STAT3 signal axis (Jang et al., 2017). Futhermore, Zheng et al. found that oral administration of portulaca oleracea extract to male AKR mice for seven consecutive days could contribute to the treatment of liver cancer. The results showed that the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MDA in mice decreased after 7 days of treatment, while the activity of SOD increased. The pathological changes of the liver were significantly alleviated. Meanwhile, portulaca oleracea extract could effectively inhibit PI3K, Akt, mTOR, NF-κB and IκBα, and up regulate the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. These effects are attributed to the protective effect of Portulaca oleracea extract on liver cancer by regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway (Guoyin et al., 2017).

In addition, some CM can also achieve protection against liver cancer through various other effects. For examples, Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma wenyujin promote the normalization of blood vessels in liver tumor endothelial cells by increasing the expression of CD34 and reducing the expression of HIF1a (Zang et al., 2019). Artemisia capillaris leaves can achieve pro-apoptotic effects on liver cancer cells by reducing the expression of XIAP and the release of cytochrome C through mitochondrial membrane potential (Kim et al., 2018). Besides, Ligustrum lucidum Ait. fruit extract can induce apoptosis and cell senescence of human liver cancer cell Bel-7402 by up-regulating p21. All in all, there are abundant resources of CM against liver cancer, which are worthy of our further development and utilization.

Other Anti-liver Disease Mechanisms

A large number of studies have shown that the occurrence of liver diseases is also closely related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and insulin resistance. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract can regulate the endoplasmic reticulum stress and protect the liver by reducing the expression of glucose-related protein 78 (Dong et al., 2016). HFD increased the expression of adipose-derived carbohydrate response element binding protein and endoplasmic reticulum stress genes CHOP, x-box binding protein 1, and glucose regulated protein 78 in male wistar rats, and Ginger extract could restore these changes to normal state (Kandeil et al., 2019). Jung et al. reported that Polygonum multiflfluorum thunb. reduced nonalcoholic steatosis and insulin resistance by regulating the expression of the proteins on lipid metabolism and glucose transport in the liver (Jung et al., 2020).

Recently, the evidence has shown that gut microbiota play an important role in metabolism, immune system, and so on. The changes of gut microbiota and their function can promote the development of acute and chronic liver diseases. In addition, the destruction of intestinal barrier can make microorganisms transfer to the blood, and continuously cause inflammatory reaction, thus promoting liver injury, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and carcinogenic transformation (Shen et al., 2018; Chopyk and Grakoui, 2020). Rhubarb extract can promote some intestinal bacteria (such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Parabacteroides goldsteinii.) to participate in the intestinal barrier function, and alleviate liver inflammation caused by acute alcohol intake (Neyrinck et al., 2017). In addition, Schisandra chinensis bee pollen could inhibit the expression of LXR-α, SREBP-1c, and FAS genes, and regulate the structure of intestinal microflora in obese mice, so as to achieve the protective effect on MAFLD (Cheng et al., 2019).

Natural Agents From CM for Liver Disease Treatment

Polysaccharides and Glycosides

Polysaccharide is one of the active components of CM. The polysaccharides in CM have a wide range of biological activities in enhancing immunity, antiviral, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor (Chen et al., 2016). Ginkgo biloba leaf polysaccharides and Astragalus polysaccharides can effectively inhibit liver steatosis (Yan et al., 2015; Huang et al., 2017). The polysaccharides from roots of Sophora flavescens can significantly inhibit the HBsAg and HBeAg secretion of HepG2.2.15 cells, and have good anti-HBV activity (Yang et al., 2018). In addition, the polysaccharides extracted from many CM have obvious protective effects on acute liver injury, such as Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae polysaccharides (Han et al., 2016), Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (Wang, K. et al., 2020), Poria Cocos polysaccharides (Wu, K. et al., 2018), Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (Wei et al., 2020), and Schizandra chinensis acidic polysaccharides (Yuan et al., 2018). Wang et al. reported that Paeoniae Radix Alba polysaccharides inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway (including the liver infiltration of inflammatory CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10) to inhibit the immune inflammatory response in experimental autoimmune hepatitis mice (Wang, S. et al., 2020). Finally, it is also important that APS is the main active component extracted from Astragalus, which has been proved to have a significant inhibitory effect on many types of human solid tumors. A recent study showed that APS could reduce the activity of hepatoma cells and induce the apoptosis of HCC cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The study further showed that the results might be related to inhibiting the expression of Notch 1 in HCC cells (Huang et al., 2016).

Glycosides are a class of compounds formed by linking the sugar or sugar derivative with another non-sugar substance through the terminal carbon atom of the sugar. The studies have shown that most glycosides have good hepatoprotective effects on liver, such as amygdalin, amarogentin, and forsythiaside A (Pan, C.-W. et al., 2015; Tang et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2017). Chrysophanol 8-o-glucoside, extracted from Rheum palmatum, can significantly inhibit the gene expression of α-SMA and collagen I, and inhibit the phosphorylation of STAT3 by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of p-STAT3, thus alleviating fibrosis and achieving liver protection (Park et al., 2020). What’s more, Gentiopicroside not only protects alcoholic liver disease by improving lipid metabolism imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by alcohol (Yang, H.-X. et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2021), but also treats alcoholic liver cancer by regulating the activation of P2x7R-NLRP3 inflammasome (Li, Xia et al., 2018). It is worth mentioning that astragaloside IV can inhibit hepatoma cells by inhibiting multidrug resistance-associated protein 2, and long noncoding RNA ATB (Li, Y. et al., 2018; Qu et al., 2020).

The specific information of polysaccharides and glycosides is shown in Table 2. In addition, the chemical structures of the glycosides with therapeutic effects on liver diseases are shown in Figure 5.

TABLE 2

CompoundsSourceThe species investigatedDoseMechanismsReferences
Polysaccharides
PRAM2Rhizoma Atractylodis MacrocephalaeMale ICR mice50, 100, 200 mg/kgInhibition of NOS activity and NO level and its reduction of the production of free radicalsHan et al. (2016)
Radix isatidis polysaccharideRadix isatidis3T3-L1 preadipocytes25, 50, 100 μg/mlImprovement of the glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and oxidative stressLi, et al. (2019c)
Male Wistar rats25, 50, 100 mg/kg
Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharideSalvia miltiorrhizaChickens0.5, 1, 2 g/LDown-regulation of the contents of ALT, AST, and MDA, and up-regulation of the contents of GSH and CYP450Han et al. (2019)
Chicken hepatocytes100, 200, 500 μg/ml
Angelica sinensis polysaccharideAngelica sinensisL02 cells200, 400, 800 μg/mlThrough regulating lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and inhibiting HSC activationMa et al. (2020); Wang et al. (2016); Wang. et al. (2020c)
ICR male mice100, 300, 500 mg/kg
Male Balb/c mice1.5, 6 mg/kg
Murine splenocytes5, 25,125 μg/ml
Male C57BL/6J mice200 mg/kg
Primary splenocytes50, 100, 200 μg/ml
Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharideCodonopsis pilosulaFemale ICR mice100, 150, 200 mg/kgThrough antioxidant effectLiu et al. (2015)
Poria cocos polysaccharidePoria cocosMale Kunming mice200, 400 mg/kgBy suppressing cell death, reducing hepatocellular inflammatory stress and apoptosis, and Hsp90 bioactivityWu et al. (2018c); Wu. et al. (2019b)
AML12 cells20, 40 g/L
Lycium barbarum polysaccharideLycium barbarumL02 cells24 μg/mlBy reversing oxidative injury, inflammatory response and TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway expressionGan. et al. (2018b); Wei et al. (2020)
Male wistar rats400, 800, 1600 mg/kg
Astragalus membranaceus-PolysaccharideAstragalus membranaceusHFSTZ Mice500 mg/kgThrough improving peripheral metabolic stress, activating hepatic insulin signalingHuang et al. (2016); Huang et al. (2017); Sun et al. (2019)
C57BL/6 mice800 mg/kg
HCC cells0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/ml
SFP-100Sophora flavescensFemale Balb/c mice500 mg/kgBy decreasing hepatocytes apoptosis, inhibit the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into liverYang et al., (2018)
L02 cells10, 50, 250 μg/ml
HepG2.2.15 cells50, 100, 250, 500 μg/ml
Codonopsis lanceolata polysaccharideCodonopsis lanceolataMale C57BL/6 mice100 mg/kgThrough activating anti-oxidative signaling pathwayZhang, et al. (2020a)
STRPSophora tonkinensisMale ICR mice50, 100, 200 mg/kgBy inhibiting MDA, ROS generation and increasing liver GSH, GPx, T-SOD, CAT levelsCai et al. (2018); Shan et al. (2019)
Schisandra chinensis PolysaccharideSchisandra chinensisMice200, 400, 800 mg/kgRegulation of Nrf2/antioxidant response element and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathwaysShan et al. (2019)
Schisandra chinensis acidic polysaccharideSchisandra chinensisMale ICR mice5, 10, 20 mg/kgBy inhibiting the expression of CYP2E1 protein and then alleviating oxidative stress injuryYuan et al. (2018)
HepG2 cells3.12, 6.25, 12.5 μg/ml
GBLPGinkgo bilobaMale Wistar rats100, 200, 400 mg/kgBy attenuating IR, preserving liver function, enhancing antioxidant defense system, and reducing lipid peroxidationYan et al. (2015)
Paeoniae radix alba polysaccharidesPaeoniae radix albaMale Kunming mice0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g/kgInhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathwayWang et al. (2020b)
Glycosides
 Chrysophanol 8-O-glucosideRheum palmatumLX-2 cells1, 5, 20 μg/mlRegulation of the STAT3 signaling pathwayPark et al. (2020)
 Sennoside ARheum officinale BaillHepG2 cells25, 50, 100 μMDown-regulation of KRT7 and KRT81, and inhibition of the AKT and ERK pathwaysLe et al. (2020); Zhu et al. (2020)
SMMC-7721 cells25, 50, 100 μM
Male C57BL/6J mice15, 30, 60 mg/kg
HSC-T6 cells10 μM
 Astragaloside IVAstragalus membranaceusSMMC-7721 cells80 μg/mlInhibition of lncRNA-ATB, MRP2, PTP1B and anti-apoptotic signaling, and improvement insulin resistanceLi et al. (2018g); Qu et al. (2020); Su et al. (2020); Zhou et al. (2021)
Huh-7 cells80 μg/ml
HepG2 cells0.4, 4, 40 μM
H22 cells0.4, 4, 40 μM
Male BALB/c mice50 mg/kg
HepG2 cells6.4, 12.8, 25.6, 51.2, 102.4 μM
SK-Hep1 cells200, 400 μM
Hep3B cells200, 400 μM
 AmarogentinSwertia and Gentiana rootsHSCs0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/mlBy anti-oxidative properties and suppressing the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathwayZhang et al. (2017)
Male C57BL/6 mice25, 50, 100 mg/kg
 AmygdalinArmeniaca semenFemale BALB/c mice4, 8 mg/kgregulation of the NLRP3, NF-κB, Nrf2/NQO1, PI3K/AKT and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathwaysTang et al. (2019); Wang et al. (2021a); Yang et al. (2019a)
HepG2 cells80 μM
Male Sprague–Dawley rats0.5, 1, 1.5, 3 mg/kg
LX-2 cells1.25, 2.5, 5 mg/ml
 Forsythiaside AForsythia suspensaMale BALB/c mice15, 30, 60 mg/kgThrough modulating the remolding of extracellular matrix, PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 signaling pathway, and inhibition of NF-κB activationGong et al. (2021); Pan, et al. (2015a)
Transgenic zebrafish25, 50, 100 μM
 GentiopicrosideGentiana manshurica KitagawaMale Sprague–Dawley rats20 mg/kgImprovement of mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of LKB1/AMPK signalingLi, et al. (2018e); Yang et al. (2020a); Zhang et al. (2021)
Male C57BL/6 mice40, 80 mg/kg
HepG2 cells100 μM
RAW 264.7 macrophages25, 50, 100 μM
 PaeoniflorinPaeonia lactifloraMale Sprague-Dawley rats10, 20, 40, 80, 200 mg/kgBy activating LKB1/AMPK and AKT pathways, and inhibiting HMGB1-TLR4 signaling pathway and HIF-1α expressionLi, et al. (2018d); Xie et al. (2018); Zhao et al. (2014)
Male C57BL/6 mice100 mg/kg
 SwertiamarinGentiana manshurica KitagHSCs cells2.4, 6, 15 μMBy suppressing angiotensin II–angiotensin type 1 receptor–extracellular signal-regulated kinase signalingLi et al., (2016)
MaleWistar rats15, 20 mg/kg
 NodakeninAngelica biserrataMale ICR mice10, 30 mg/kgBy regulating apoptosis-related mitochondrial proteinsLim et al. (2021)
 GeniposideGardenia jasminoides fruiHepG2 cells65, 130, 260 μmol/LRegulation of Nrf2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathwaysShen et al. (2020)
Male wild-type mice50, 75, 100 mg/kg

Summary of polysaccharides and glycosides with significant anti-liver disease activity.

FIGURE 5

Phenols and Flavonoids

Phenolic compounds are composed of the aromatic rings with one or more hydroxyl groups. They play an important role on oxidative stress in the human by maintaining the balance between oxidants and antioxidants, which are divided into phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, and tannins (Van Hung, 2016). A large number of phenolic compounds in CM have obvious antioxidant capacity, which can reduce the oxidative damage of the liver, such as Lithospermic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Curcumin, Polydatin, and Salvianolic acid C (Chan and Ho, 2015; Koneru et al., 2017; Shi et al., 2016; Wu, C.-T. et al., 2019; Zhong et al., 2016). Yang et al. further found that Chlorogenic acid could reduce the expression of α-SMA, collagen I in the liver tissue and serum TGF-β1 by increasing the mRNA and protein expression of Smad7 and MMP-9, thus alleviating liver fibrosis (Wu, C. et al., 2019). The studies have shown that Curcumin and Polydatin can inhibit lipid accumulation by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway (Lee, H.-Y. et al., 2017; Zhao, X.-J. et al., 2018). In addition, Yan et al. demonstrated that Chlorogenic acid could improve liver injury and insulin resistance by inactivating the JNK pathway and inhibiting the autophagy in MAFLD rats (Yan, Hua et al., 2018).

Flavonoids, a part of phenolic compounds, also have significant hepatoprotective effects. For example, Isorhamnetin suppresses the TGF-β/Smad pathway and reduces oxidative stress to alleviate hepatic fibrosis (Yang, J.H. et al., 2016), and Wogonin reduces hepatic fibrosis by regulating the activation and apoptosis of HSCs (Du et al., 2019). Quercetin can effectively alleviate MAFLD, which depends on its regulation of intestinal microbiota imbalance and related gut-liver axis activation (Porras et al., 2017). Hesperidin and Oxylin A have significant anti-hepatoma activity (Mo'men et al., 2019; Wei et al., 2017). In addition, Licochalcone A can increase the expression of antioxidant enzymes by reducing the apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reactive oxygen production stimulated by tert butyl peroxide and Acetaminophen, thus protecting APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, which is largely dependent on the antioxidant Nrf2 pathway (Lv et al., 2018). What’s more, rutin has a good protective effect on various acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride, lipopolysaccharide, and mercury chloride (Caglayan et al., 2019; Elsawy et al., 2019; Rakshit et al., 2021).

Bacalin, a kind of flavonoid extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, has significant biological activity, which is widely used in the treatment of liver diseases. The study has shown that bacalin suppresses the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as regulates the TLR4 expression and inhibits the NF-κB activation, protecting the inflammation of chicken’s liver induced by LPS through the negative regulation of inflammatory medium (Cheng et al., 2017). Another study showed that the inhibition of the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and activation of HSCs induced by platelet derived growth factor-BB through mir-3595/acsl4 axis is one of the mechanisms of bacalin in anti-hepatic fibrosis (Wu, X. et al., 2018).

The specific information of the phenols and flavonoids is shown in Table 3, and the chemical structures of the phenols and flavonoids are shown in Figure 6.

TABLE 3

CompoundsSourceThe species investigatedDoseMechanismsReferences
Phenols
ResveratrolPolygonum cuspidatumMale C57BL/6J mice60 mg/kgThrough improving insulin sensitivity and glucose levelsHajighasem et al. (2018); Zhao et al. (2019a)
HepG2 cells20, 50, 100 μM
Male Wistar rats25 mg/kg
Salvianolic acid BSalvia miltiorrhizaMale Kunming mice15, 30 mg/kgInhibition of MAPK-mediated P-Smad2/3L signalingWu et al. (2019b)
HSC-T6 cells25, 50, 100 μM
LX-2 cells25, 50, 100 μM
Salvianolic Acid CSalvia miltiorrhizaMale ICR mice5, 10, 20 mg/kgBy attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis through inhibition of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signalingWu, et al. (2019c)
PolydatinPolygonum cuspidatumMale Sprague-Dawley rats7.5, 15, 30 mg/kgThrough increasing miR-200a to regulate Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, and restoring the antioxidant balance as well as the MMP/TIMP balanceKoneru et al. (2017); Zhao, et al. (2018a)
BRL-3A cells10, 20, 40 μM
HepG2 cells10, 20, 40 μM
Male C57BL/6 mice50, 100 mg/kg
CurcuminCurcumin longaPregnant NMRI mice10 mg/kgBy suppression of oxidative stress-related inflammation via PI3K/AKT and NF-kB related signalingBarandeh et al. (2019); Lee et al. (2017b); Zhong et al. (2016)
Male Sprague-Dawley rats200 mg/kg
Male C57BL/6 mice20, 40, 80 mg/kg
HSCs0.5, 1, 2 μM
Chlorogenic acidOriental WormwoodFemale Sprague-Dawley rats50 mg/kgInhibition of oxidative stress, JNK pathway and miR-21-Regulated TGF-β1/Smad7 signaling pathwayShi et al. (2016); Yang et al. (2017)
Male Sprague-Dawley rats15, 30, 60 mg/kg
HSCs12.5, 25, 50 mg/ml
LX2 cells20, 40, 80 μg/ml
Lithospermic acidSalvia miltiorrhizaHuh-7 cells5, 10, 20, 40 μg/mlReduction of free radicals, restoration of liver functions and inhibition of caspase activity associated with apoptosisChan and Ho (2015)
Male BALB/c mice50, 100 mg/kg
Flavonoids
 HesperidinCitrusMale Wistar rats200 mg/kgInhibition of free radicals, NF-κB activation and PI3K/Akt pathway, and activation of the Akt pathwayLi et al. (2020b); Mo'men et al. (2019); Pérez-Vargas et al. (2014)
Male C57BL/6J mice100, 200, 400 mg/kg
Hepatocytes10, 20 ng/ml
 Licochalcone ALicorice GlycyrrhizaNrf2−/− C57BL/6 mice50, 100 mg/kgUp-regulation of the Nrf2 antioxidant and sirt-1/AMPK pathwayLiou et al. (2019); Lv et al. (2018)
HepG2 cells1.5, 3, 3.7, 6, 12 μM
Male C57BL/6 mice5, 10 mg/kg
 Licochalcone BLicorice GlycyrrhizaHepG2 cells40, 80, 120 μMInhibition of Caspase 8 and Caspase 9 proteinsWang et al. (2019b)
 WogoninScutellaria radixMale C57BL/6 mice10, 20, 40 mg/kgRegulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and apoptosisDu et al. (2019)
HSC-T6 cells1.25 μg/ml
LX-2 cells20 μg/ml
 QuercetinRadix BupleuriMale C57BL/6J mice0.05% (wt/wt)By ameliorating inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolism, and modulating intestinal microbiota imbalance and related gut-liver axis activationLi et al. (2018b); Porras et al. (2017); Yang et al. (2019a); Zhu et al. (2018a)
Male BALB/c mice50 mg/kg
Raw 264.7 cells50 μM
Male db/db mice100 mg/kg
Male Sprague-Dawley rats100 mg/kg
HepG2 cells100 μM
 BaicalinScutellariae radixMale C57BL/6 mice15, 30, 60 mg/kgBy regulating the ERK signaling pathway, TLR4-Mediated NF-κB pathway and miR-3595/ACSL4 axisCheng et al. (2017); Liao et al. (2017); Wu et al. (2018a)
HSC-T6 cells50, 100, 150 μM
Young chicken50, 100, 200 mg/kg
 BaicaleinScutellariae radixBEL-7402 cells5, 10 μg/mlBy activating apoptosis and ameliorating P-glycoprotein activityLi. et al. (2018a)
BEL-7402/5-FU cells5, 10 μg/ml
 RutinForsythia suspensaMale db/db mice60, 120 mg/kgBy interfering with oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, and facilitating signal transduction and activated state of insulin IRS-2/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signal pathwayD'Atanasio et al. (2018); Elsawy et al. (2019); Liang et al. (2018); Liu et al. (2017)
HepG2 cells8, 16, 32, 64 μg/ml
Male albino rats70 mg/kg
Male Sprague Dawley rats50, 100 mg/kg
Male C57BL/6 mice200 mg/kg
 CalycosinRadix astragaliMale C57BL/6 mice12.5, 25, 50 mg/kgBy activating farnesoid X receptorDuan et al. (2017)
 SilybinSilybum marianumMale C57BL/6 mice105 mg/kgBy reducing oxidative damage to mitochondria, proteins, lipids, and involvement with the NF-κB pathwayGoh et al. (2020); Ou et al. (2018)
LO2 cells25, 50 μM
 Isorhamnetin/Male C57BL/6J mice50 mg/kgBy inhibiting de novo lipogenic pathway, by inhibiting TGF-β/Smad signaling and relieving oxidative stress, inhibiting Extracellular Matrix Formation via the TGF-β1/Smad3 and TGF-β1/p38 MAPK Pathways (via inhibition of TGF-β1-mediated Smad3 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.)Ganbold et al. (2019); Liu et al. (2019a); Yang et al. (2016b)
LX-2 cells25, 50, 100 μM
HepG2 cells25, 50, 100 μM
Male ICR mice10, 30 mg/kg
 Oroxylin AScutellaria baicalensisMale ICR mice30 mg/kgInhibition of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha, and activation PKM1/HNF4 alphaJin et al. (2018); Wei et al. (2017)
LO2 cells10, 20, 40 μM
HepG2 cells6, 8, 10 μM
SMMC-7721 cells15, 20, 25 μM
C57BL/6J mice75 mg/kg

Summary of phenols and flavonoids with significant anti-liver disease activity.

FIGURE 6

Terpenoids

Terpenoids (isoprenoids) are the most abundant chemical compounds in plants (Tholl, 2015), which has a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-inflammation (Kim, T. et al., 2020), anti-depressant (Agatonovic-Kustrin et al., 2020), anti-cancer (Ateba et al., 2018), and so on. Many studies have shown that terpenoids are also widely used in the treatment of liver diseases. Leucodin is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia capillaris, which can inhibit the inflammatory response of macrophages, and P2x7R-NLRP3-mediated lipid accumulation in hepatocytes (Shang et al., 2018). Saikosaponin-d is an active component isolated from Radix Bupleuri, which can inhibit the COX2 expression through the p-STAT3/C/EBPβ signaling pathway in HCC (Ren et al., 2019). Oleanolic acid (OA) is a kind of triterpenoid widely existing in fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It is liver-specific and can selectively inhibit adipogenesis (Lin, Y.-N. et al., 2018). In addition, OA can regulate antioxidant status, and induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and regulate inflammation, which effectively inhibits 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced liver cancer (Hosny et al., 2021).

Rhizoma Alismatis is a kind of common CM, which is often used in clinic for adverse urination, edema, diarrhea, and so on. Modern studies have shown that many compounds extracted from Rhizoma Alismatis have hepatoprotective effects. For example, Alisol A 24-acetate, a natural triterpene extracted from Rhizoma Alismatis, can improve NASH by inhibiting oxidative stress, and stimulating autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway (Wu, C. et al., 2018). Meng et al. found that Alisol A 23-acetate could also improve NASH in the mice, which was achieved by the activation of X-like receptor (Meng et al., 2017). Futhermore, Meng et al. found that Alisol A 23-acetate activated FXR to induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the expression of its target genes, Bcl-xl and SOCS3. And it reduced the expression of the liver uptake transporter NTCP, and bile acid synthases CYP7A1 and Cyp8b1, as well as increased the expression of the outflow transporters BSEP and MRP2, reducing the hepatic bile acid deposition, which achieved the protective effect on CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in the mice (Meng et al., 2015).

The specific information of the terpenoids in the treatment of liver diseases is shown in Table 4, and the chemical structures of the terpenoids with therapeutic effects on liver diseases are shown in Figure 7.

TABLE 4

CompoundsSourceThe species investigatedDoseMechanismsReferences
Betulinic acidBetula pubescensMale C57BL/6J mice15, 30, 60, 150 mg/kgThrough the YY1/FAS, MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathwayLiu et al. (2019b); Liu et al. (2019c); Mu et al. (2020)
SMMC-7721 cells2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μM
HepG2 cells2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40 μM
Saikosaponin-dRadix BupleuriSMMC-7721 cells2.5, 5, 10 μg/LThrough SENP5- Dependent Inhibition of Gli1 SUMOylation Under Hypoxia, and p-STAT3/C/EBPβ signalingRen et al. (2019); Zhang et al. (2019)
HepG2 cells2.5, 5, 10 μg/L
CycloastragenolAstragali RadixHepG2 cells12, 25, 50 μMBy activating farnesoid X receptor signalingGu et al. (2017)
Female C57BL/6 mice100 mg/100 g diet
LimoninCitrus fruit and plantsMale Wistar rats100 mg/kgBy activating Nrf2 antioxidative pathway and inhibiting NF-κB inflammatory response and TLR-signaling pathwayMahmoud et al. (2014); Yang et al. (2020b)
L-02 cells10, 25, 50 μM
Male C57BL/6 mice40, 80 mg/kg
Oleanolic acidForsythia suspensaMale Swiss albino mice75 mg/kgThrough induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of Liver X Receptor Alpha and Pregnane X ReceptorHosny et al. (2021)
EAC cells9.32 μM
HepG2 cells10, 20, 32.58, 27.56 μM
SMMC-7721 cells10, 30, 60 μmol/L
Ginsenoside Rg1Panax ginsengMale C57BL/6 mice15, 30, 60 mg/kgBy activating Nrf2 signaling pathwayNing et al. (2018)
Ursolic acidForsythia suspensaC57BL/6 mice40 mg/kgThrough RhoA-related signaling pathways, and inhibition of interactive NOX4/ROS, RhoA/R and CASP3Gan et al. (2018a); Ma et al. (2021); Wan et al. (2019); Wan et al. (2020)
HepG2 cells10 μM
Male Kunming mice20, 40, 80 mg/kg
Sprague–Dawley rats40 mg/kg
Alisol ARhizoma AlismatisC57BL/6 mice100 mg/kgThrough the AMPK/ACC/SREBP-1c pathwayHo et al. (2019)
Alisol B 23-acetateRhizoma AlismatisMale C57BL/6 mice10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60 mg/kgRegulation of the FXR and STAT3 signaling pathwayMeng et al. (2015); Meng et al. (2017)
LeucodinArtemisia capillarisHepG2 cells1, 5 μMThrough the P2x7 receptor pathwayShang et al. (2018)

Summary of terpenoids with significant anti-liver disease activity.

FIGURE 7

Alkaloids

Alkaloids are an important class of natural products, which have a wide range of biological activities, and have been used in folk medicine for many years (Stöckigt et al., 2011). We are surprised to find that alkaloids play an important role in the treatment of liver diseases. Matrine and Oxymatrine are the main active substances extracted from the roots of Sophora flavescens, and are widely used (Yuan et al., 2010). They have significant biological activities against MAFLD, liver injury, and liver cancer (Gao et al., 2018; Shi et al., 2020; Wei et al., 2018; Xu et al., 2018; Zhang, H. et al., 2020). Ligustrazine is an alkaloid extracted from Ligusticum chuanxiong. It not only activates Nrf2 to inhibit hepatic steatosis, but also induces the apoptosis and autophagy of hepatoma cells to exert an anti-hepatoma effect (Cao et al., 2015; Lu et al., 2017). And coptisine exerts an anti-hepatoma effect by activating the 67 kDa laminin receptor/cGMP signal to induce the apoptosis of human hepatoma cells, and the proliferation and migration of HCC cells (Chai et al., 2018a; Zhou et al., 2018).

The specific information of various alkaloids in the treatment of liver diseases is shown in Table 5. In addition, the chemical structure formulas are shown in Figure 8.

TABLE 5

CompoundsSourceThe species investigatedDoseMechanismsReferences
TetramethylpyrazineLigusticum chuanxiong HortMale Sprague-Dawley rats50, 100, 200 mg/kgThrough PDGF-bR/NLRP3/caspase1 pathway to reduce liver inflammation, and exerts antitumor effects by inducing apoptosis and autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma, and inhibition of hepatic steatosis by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathwayCao et al. (2015); Lu et al. (2017); Wu et al. (2015)
Human HCC HepG2 cells50, 100, 200 μM
Male BALB/c nude mice50, 100, 150 mg/kg
Male ICR mice100 mg/kg
Human LO2 hepatocytes20 μM
CoptisineRhizoma CoptidisKunming mice37.5, 150 mg/kgThrough up-regulating expression of miR-122, and activating 67-kDa laminin receptor/cGMP signalingChai et al. (2018a); Chai et al. (2018b); Zhou et al. (2018)
HepG2 cells12.5, 25, 50, 100 μg/ml
L02 cells25 μg/ml
SMMC7721 cells12.5, 25, 50, 100 μM
Male BALB/c nude mice150 mg/kg
HepG2 cells25 μg/ml
Huh7 cells25 μg/ml
MatrineSophora flavescens, Sophora subprostrataMale C57BL/6J mice0.5, 2.5, 10 mg/kgRegulation of SERCA pathway, and inhibition of mitophagy, PINK1/Parkin pathways and Notch signaling pathwayGao et al. (2018); Wei et al. (2018)
L02 cells200, 400, 800 μM
HepG2 cells1, 5 nM
Huh7 cells1, 5 nM
BetaineLycium chinensisMale Sprague-Dawley rats20 g/kgRegulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy and Akt/mTOR signalingAbu Ahmad et al. (2019); Veskovic et al. (2019)
Male C57BL/6 mice1.5% (w/v)
BerberineRhizoma CoptidisMale C57BL/6 mice2, 5 mg/kgInhibition of oxidative stress, hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory response, and AKT-mTOR-S6K signaling pathwayLi. et al. (2018a); Zhao et al. (2018b)
MIHA cells10, 20, 100 μM
HepG2 cells10, 20 μM
OxymatrineSophora alopecuroidesMale Sprague-Dawley rats30, 60, 120 mg/kgActivation of Nrf2/HO-1, regulation of miR-182, and modulation of TLR4-dependent inflammatory and TGF-β1 signaling pathwaysXu et al. (2018); Zhang et al. (2020b); Zhao et al. (2016)
BMDMs1.0 mg/ml
HSC-T6 cells250, 500, 1000 μg/ml
Male C57BL/6 mice120 mg/kg
Wistar male rats80 mg/kg
Levo-tetrahydropalmatineCorydalis yanhusuoMale C57 mice20, 40 mg/kgModulation of PPARγ/NF-κB, TGF-β1/Smad and TRAF6/JNK signaling pathwayYu et al. (2021); Yu et al. (2018)
LX-2 cells34.01 μmol/L
Male Balb/c mice20, 40 mg/kg

Summary of alkaloids with significant anti-liver disease activity.

FIGURE 8

Other Bioactive Ingredients

In addition to the above compounds, many compounds have the activities of anti-liver diseases, including phenylpropanoids (such as simple phenylpropanoids, coumarins, and lignans), anthraquinones, and volatile oils. Some lignans extracted from CM have been proved to have the effects on improving liver diseases. For example, Gomisin N extracted from Schisandra chinensis not only has protective effects on endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced hepatic steatosis, but also alleviates the liver injury caused by ethanol by improving lipid metabolism and oxidative stress (Jang et al., 2016; Nagappan et al., 2018). Futhermore, Arctigenin can inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells and block the autophagy cells that lead to the accumulation of sequestosome 1/p62, so as to achieve the therapeutic effects on liver cancer. It will become a new drug for the autophagy research and cancer chemoprevention. It is worth noting that many anthraquinones in Rhubarb have good activities of anti-liver diseases, including chrysophanol, emodin, rhein, and aloe emodin (Bai et al., 2020; Dong et al., 2017; Kuo et al., 2020; Li, Y. et al., 2019). Cryptotanshinone, the main anthraquinone extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, can protect liver by activating the AMPK/SIRT1 and Nrf2, and inhibiting CYP2E1 to inhibit adipogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation (Nagappan et al., 2019). Other bioactive components against liver diseases are shown in Table 6. In addition, the related chemical structures are also shown in Figure 9.

TABLE 6

CompoundsSourceThe species investigatedDoseMechanismsReferences
Phenylpropanoids
Ferulic AcidAngelica sinensisMale Swiss albino mice50, 100 mg/kgUpregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling, and inhibition of TGF-β/smad signaling pathway, and modulation of the gut microbiota compositionMa et al. (2019); Mahmoud et al. (2020); Mu et al. (2018); Roghani et al. (2020)
Male ApoE−/− mice30 mg/kg
Male Wistar rats10, 25, 50 mg/kg
LX-2 cells5, 15, 30 μM
PhillygeninForsythia suspensaLX2 cells12.5, 25, 50 μMThrough TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathwayHu et al. (2020b)
ArctigeninArctium lappaHepG2 cells10 μMThrough autophagy inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma cellsOkubo et al. (2020)
MCF-7 cells10 μM
ImperatorinAngelica dahuricaMale C57BL/6 mice50, 100 mg/kgBy stimulating the SIRT1-FXR pathwayGao et al. (2020)
Hepatocytes5, 10 μM
PinoresinolForsythiae FructusMale ICR mice25, 50, 100, 200 mg/kgThrough inhibition of NF-κB and AP-1Kim et al. (2010)
Schisandrol BSchisandra sphenantheraMale C57BL/6 mice12.5, 50, 200 mg/kgInhibition of CYP-mediated bioactivation and regulation of liver regenerationJiang et al. (2015)
Schisantherin ASchisandra sphenantheraMale C57BL/6 mice25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 mg/kgInhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathwayZheng et al. (2017)
Schisandrin BSchisandra sphenantheraMale Wistar rats25, 50 mg/kgRegulation of Nrf2-ARE and TGF-β/smad signaling pathwaysChen et al. (2017)
HSC-T6 cells5, 10, 30 μM
Gomisin NSchisandra sphenantheraMale C57BL/6N mice5, 20 mg/kgThrough ameliorating lipid metabolism, oxidative Stress and ER stressNagappan et al. (2018); Yun et al. (2017)
HepG2 cells10, 50, 100 μM
C57BL/6 mice1, 30 mg/kg
ScoparoneArtemisia capillarisAML12 cells200 mMBy regulating the ROS/P38/Nrf2 axis, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathwayLiu et al. (2020b)
RAW264.7 cells25, 50, 100, 200 mM
Male C57BL/6 J mice20, 40, 80 mg/kg
Anthraquinones
 ChrysophanolRheum palmatumHSC-T6 cells30 mMBy regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and ferroptosisKuo et al. (2020)
 EmodinRheum palmatumMale BALB/c nude mice15, 25, 30, 50, 60 mg/kgBy regulating VEGFR2, miR-34a, AMPK with Hippo/Yap signalling pathway, MAPK, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, and inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition and transforming growth factor-β1Bai et al. (2020); Ding et al. (2018a); Lee et al. (2020); Lin et al. (2016); Liu et al. (2018)
HepG2 cells3, 10, 30, 100 μM
SK-Hep-1 cells30 μM
Male C57B/6 mice10, 30 mg/kg
Male Sprague-Dawley rats10, 20, 40 mg/kg
RAW264.7 cells15, 30, 60 μg/ml
Male Balb/c mice20, 40, 80 mg/kg
SMMC-7721 cells25, 50, 100 μM
 RheinPolygonum multiflorumMale Sprague-Dawley rats10, 30, 1000 mg/kgThrough regulating the Fas death pathway and the mitochondrial pathway, and promoting bile acid transport and reduce bile acid accumulationLi et al. (2019c); Xian et al. (2020)
L02 cells25, 50, 100 μM
 Aloe-emodinRheum palmatumHepG2 cells1, 15, 30 μMRegulation of the Fas death pathway and the mitochondrial pathway, and inhibition of multidrug resistance protein 2Dong et al. (2017); Liu et al. (2020b)
Male and female Kunming mouse0.8, 1.6 g/kg
HL-7702 cells5, 10, 20, 40 μM
 CryptotanshinoneSalvia miltiorrhizaMale C57BL/6 mice20, 40 mg/kgInhibition of MAPKs phosphorylation regulated by TAK1, and activation of AMPK/SIRT1 and Nrf2 signaling pathwaysJin et al. (2014); Nagappan et al. (2019)
HepG2 cells2.5, 5 μM
AML-12 cells2.5, 5 μM
Volatile oil
 Z-ligustilide and n-ButylidenephthalideAngelica tenuissimaMaleC57BL/6mice10, 50 mg/kgInhibition of fatty acid uptake and esterificationLee et al. (2019)
HepG2 cells10, 50, 100 μg/ml
 ButylidenephthalideAngelica sinensisHSC-T6 cells15, 25, 35 μg/mlReduction of EMT, decreasing inflammatory reaction, and liver cell proliferationChuang et al. (2016)
Male Wistar rats15, 80 mg/kg
 LigustilideAngelica sinensisMale Sprague-Dawley10, 20, 40 mg/kgPromotion of phosphorylation of Nrf2 and AMPKa1Guo et al. (2021)

Summary of other bioactive ingredients with significant anti-liver disease activity.

FIGURE 9

Toxicity

After the above discussion, it is not difficult to find the important position of CM in the treatment of liver diseases. As we all know, CM is a relatively safe class of drugs, but we can’t ignore its toxic and side effects on the liver when we use CM to treat liver diseases. The studies have found that some CM show certain hepatotoxicity. For example, Rhubarb extract had a certain protective effect on the rats with chronic renal failure, but the incidence of mild hepatotoxicity was also observed in normal rats (Wang et al., 2009). Ginkgo biloba extract induced DNA damage by inhibiting the topoisomerase II activity in human hepatocytes (Zhang et al., 2015). Interestingly, the hepatotoxicity of some CM comes from their own hydrolysates. For example, after the intragastric administration of Sophora flavescens extract to the rats, kurarinone glucosides was hydrolyzed into Kurarinone in liver cells, which eventually led to the lipid accumulation and liver injury through a series of actions (Jiang, P. et al., 2017). In addition, the use of herbal products is also a crucial cause of acute liver injury. It has been reported that a 68-year-old woman suffered from acute liver injury caused by aloe, after stopping taking aloe, her liver functions returned to normal levels (Parlati et al., 2017). It is worth noting that the first case of autoimmune hepatitis caused by turmeric supplements has been reported (Lukefahr et al., 2018).

The dosage of CM is often closely related to hepatotoxicity. In order to study the hepatotoxicity of Cortex Dictamni, fan et al. used its water extract and alcohol extract to carry out the toxicity experiments in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that high dose of water extract and alcohol extract significantly increased the levels of ALT and AST, absolute and relative liver weight, and the liver-to-brain ratio, and the histological examination of the liver showed the cell enlargement and nuclear contraction. In vitro cell experiment also showed that water extract and alcohol extract reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (Fan et al., 2018). A single oral dose of 60 g/kg Cortex Dictamni ethanol extract for 24 h resulted in severe hepatocyte necrosis in mice, and the induced liver injury showed a dose and time-dependent manner (Huang et al., 2020). Saikosaponins, a major bioactive component extracted from Radix Bupleuri, enhances the CYP2E1 expression in a dose and time-dependent manner, and induces oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro, leading to liver injury in mice (Li et al., 2017). In another study, the rats were fed with 300, 1250 and 2500 mg kg−1·D−1Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis ethanol extract for 26 weeks. It was found that the liver tissues of the rats in the high-dose group showed some inflammatory changes mainly characterized by leukocyte infiltration. In addition, there were also some changes in the levels of glucose, electrolyte, and lipid (Yi et al., 2018). It can be seen that the hepatotoxicity of many CM are closely related to the dosage.

In addition, the abuse of CM without the guidance of doctors is also the source of toxic reactions. Because traditional Chinese medical science thinks that “toxicity” refers to the biases of drugs, the toxic components of CM are often the effective components for treating diseases. The key to judging whether CM is toxic or non-toxic is to see whether it is used according to the syndrome. As long as the treatment is besed on the syndrome, toxic drugs are also safe. If the treatment is not for the syndrome, non-toxic drugs may be harmful. It is worth noting that there are also some CM products considered non-toxic or low toxic, which have obvious toxicological effects on different organs in animal and human models (Liu, R. et al., 2020). So it is a great problem to control the toxic and non-toxic boundaries reasonably, and every traditional medical scholar should make efforts to do so.

Clinical Trials

Most drugs for anti-liver diseases used in clinic are CM compounds, and less clinical research and application involve only one CM or one compound. Table 7 shows some CM (excluding CM compounds) used in the clinical treatment of liver diseases. The purpose is to improve the richness of clinical medication, so that more CM with potential and significant therapeutic effects can be noticed.

TABLE 7

CM or its compoundsdiseaseSubjectStudy designTreatment groupsLengthClinical outcomeReferences
Turmeric supplementation (Combined use of chicory seeds)MAFLD92 patients (aged 20–60 years)Double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trialControl group: placebo12 weeksSignificantly decreased serum alkaline phosphatase and increased serum HDL-CGhaffari et al. (2019)
Experimental group: turmeric supplementation (3 g/d, TUR); Chicory seed supplementation (9 g/d, CHI); Turmeric and chicory seed supplementation (3 g/d, TUR + CHI)
Curcuminoids supplementationMAFLD55 patientsDouble-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialControl group: placebo capsules8 weeksImproved the severity of MAFLD; serum concentrations of TNF-α, MCP-1 and EGF were improvedSaberi-Karimian et al. (2020)
Experimental group: 500 mg curcuminoids (plus 5 mg piperine to increase intestinal absorption)
Curcumin (amorphous dispersion formulation)MAFLD80 casesRandomized double-blind placebo-controlled trialControl group: placebo8 weeksThe liver fat content, biochemical parameters and anthropometry were significantly improved in patients with MAFLDRahmani et al. (2016)
Experimental group: 500 mg/day equivalent to 70 mg curcumin
Curcumin supplementationLC70 patients (aged 20–70 years)Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialControl group: placebo3 monthsMELD(i), MELD, MELD-Na and Child-Pugh scores decreased significantlyNouri-Vaskeh et al. (2020b)
Experimental group: 1000 mg/day curcumin
CurcuminLC70 cases (aged 20–70 years)Randomized double-masked placebo-controlled trialControl group: placebo12 weeksThe total score and most of the CLDQ, physical and mental health scores and most of the SF-36 areas were significantly improved, and the LDSI2.0 domain was significantly decreasedNouri-Vaskeh et al. (2020a)
Experimental group: 1000 mg/day curcumin
ResveratrolMAFLD60 subjectsDouble-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialControl group: placebo3 monthsSignificantly reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose, LDL-C, total cholesterol; reduced the levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, cytokeratin 18 and fifibroblast growth factor 21Chen et al. (2015)
Experimental group: 150 mg resveratrol twice daily
Portulaca oleracea L. hydroalcohoic extractMAFLD74 patientsRandomized, double-blind clinical trialControl group: placebo capsules12 weeksThe levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase, γ-glutamyltransferase, fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance, triglyceride and LDL-C were significantly reducedDarvish Damavandi et al. (2021)
Experimental group: 300 mg purslane extract
Portulaca oleracea L. seedsMAFLDSixty eligible individuals (12 men and 48 women)Randomized controlled clinical trialControl group: low-calorie diet8 weeksReduced fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL-CGheflati et al. (2019)
Experimental group: 10 g/day of purslane seeds and low-calorie diet
Hesperidin (Combined use of flaxseed)MAFLDOne hundred eligible patientsRandomized, controlled, clinical trialControl group: lifestyle modification program12 weeksThe levels of ALT, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity index, fasting blood glucose and fatty liver index decreased significantlyYari et al. (2021)
Experimental group: lifestyle modification program with 30 g whole flaxseed powder; lifestyle modification program with 1 g hesperidin supplementation; lifestyle modification program with combination of 30 g flaxseed and 1 g hesperidin
Artemisia annua L. ExtractNonalcoholic liver dysfunction79 subjectsRandomized, double-Blind, placebo-controlledControl group: placebo4 weeksLevels of AST and ALT were significantly reduced, and scores on the multidimensional fatigue scale were reduced, significantly enhancing liver function and healthHan et al. (2020)
Experimental group: powdered-water extract of Artemisia annua
SilymarinNASH78 patientsRandomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trialControl group: placebo12 monthsAfter 48 weeks of treatment, the MAFLD activity score (NAS) decreased by at least two points, fibrosis stage improved, baseline changes, serum ALT and AST decreasedNavarro et al. (2019)
Experimental group: proprietary standardized silymarin preparation 420 mg or 700 mg
SilymarinNASH99 patientsRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialControl group: placebo48 weeksThe fibrosis was reduced and the ratio of AST to platelet index was also significantly decreasedWah Kheong et al. (2017)
Experimental group: Silymarin (three times daily)

Some Chinese medicine are used to treat liver diseases in clinic.

Single extract or chemical component of CM showed good activity of anti-liver diseases in clinical research. Artemisia annua L. extract can improve the liver function in the patients with mild to moderate nonalcoholic liver dysfunction, and no obvious adverse reactions were observed in all subjects (Han et al., 2020). Futhermore, Portulaca oleracea extract can improve liver enzyme, blood lipid, and blood glucose in the patients with MAFLD (Darvish Damavandi et al., 2021). It is worth noting that Carcuma longa has a wide range of clinical applications, with a large number of clinical data, suggesting its position in the clinical treatment of liver diseases. To assess the effect of Carcuma longa on MAFLD, 92 MAFLD patients aged 20–60 years were enrolled in a 12-week study. The results showed that Carcuma longa supplement was very useful in controlling MAFLD-related risk factors (Darvish Damavandi et al., 2021). Curcumin, the main active component of Curcuma longa, can increase the serum inflammatory cytokine levels in the patients with MAFLD, which may be partly dependent on the anti-steatosis effect (Saberi-Karimian et al., 2020). In addition, curcumin can improve the quality of life of the patients with liver cirrhosis (Nouri-Vaskeh et al., 2020a). Although the clinical application of Curcuma longa has surpassed other CM against liver diseases, it still fails to solve the problem of its optimal dosage, and the molecular mechanisms on treating liver diseases is unclear. More importantly, in view of the widespread use of Curcuma longa, we need larger, more impartial and high-quality controlled randomized trials to conduct a deeper evaluation.

In the future, more clinical experiments should be studied, which makes more CM into clinical application, and even go to the international stage. There are still many deficiencies in the current clinical research. First, the dosage is single and the sample size is small, which is not good for screening the best treatment dose. Secondly, the existing clinical experiments mainly focus on the study of MAFLD, but there are many kinds of liver diseases. In the future, the research can be expanded to make more patients with liver diseases benefit from CM. Finally, the mechanisms of many CM (especially CM compounds) used in the treatment of liver diseases are not clear. We should further explore the mechanism of action of CM, making its fuzzy mechanism clearer and letting more people accept it.

Conclusion and Perspectives

In conclusion, CM can prevent and treat liver diseases through many ways, including regulating lipid metabolism, anti-liver injury (such as CCl4, H2O2, alcohol, and drug damage), anti-oxidant stress (including reducing ROS, increasing SOD, GSH and CAT content, and regulating Nrf2 and other related pathways), regulating bile acid metabolism (including regulating the excreted and ingested receptors), regulating the immune system, anti-hepatitis virus, and anti-liver cancer. In terms of the current situation, a large number of studies have proved the potential of CM in the treatment of liver diseases. However, the resources of CM are huge, and it is probably known that the effective CM for liver diseases are only one corner of the iceberg. More tasks need the joint efforts of all traditional medicine scholars. In addition, a large part of the current research has not only been focused on the study of efficacy, but also the expression level of genes and proteins. But it is not enough, and more new methods should be explored, such as using multi-group analysis (metabolomics, proteomics), so as to promote the progress of CM in the treatment of liver diseases.

It is worth noting that there is also relevant evidence that the new technology of CM combined with other preparations can greatly enhance the therapeutic effects on liver diseases. For example, due to the characteristics of unstable chemical structure, low bioavailability, easy oxidation, and UV degradation, the toxic effect of curcumin on hepatoma cells is limited. Therefore, Kong et al. used curcumin loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and found that the complex had better antioxidant activity than curcumin alone, as well as significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effect on hepatoma cells (Kong et al., 2019). Another study showed that curcumin liposome had a greater inhibitory effect on the growth and apoptosis of cancer cells (Feng et al., 2017). But these studies are still very few, which should be increased later.

This paper lists and elaborates the active ingredients of some CM against liver diseases, such as polysaccharides, glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, etc. We found the research on the mechanism of action of each ingredient was relatively single, and CM showed the joint action of multi-component and multi-target in the treatment of liver diseases. Therefore, screening more effective components and studying their molecular mechanisms should be greatly strengthened. For example, recent studies have shown that iron is essential for life, but excessive iron may be cytotoxic, which may lead to cell death and some diseases (Bogdan et al., 2016; Nakamura et al., 2019). In addition, in the previous discussion, we also know that the gut microbiota plays an important role in the treatment of liver diseases. Therefore, it is suggested that we can refer to these relevant mechanisms in the future research of CM on treating liver diseases.

CM, including Tibetan medicine, has shown good effects of anti-liver diseases (Li, Qi et al., 2018; Fu et al., 2020), which is indispensable in the treatment of liver diseases. This paper is a comprehensive review of CM and the related compounds, toxicology, and clinical research, which is aimed to provide scientific and effective references for the treatment of liver diseases, and to better use and develop the treasure of CM.

Statements

Author contributions

KF and YL designed this article and established the structure. CW, CM, and HZ assisted in data collection and form establishment. YL helped to revise the manuscript.

Funding

The study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No: 81891012, 81630101, and U19A2010), Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2021JDRC0041).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Abbreviations

ALD, alcoholic liver disease; AMPK, adenine monophosphate activated protein kinase; ARE, antioxidant responsive element; BAs, bile acids; CM, Chinese medicine; CYP, cytochrome P450; FL, fatty liver; FSE, Forsythiae Fructuse water extract; GSH, glutathione; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HSCs, hepatic stellate cells; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; IL-6, interleukin-6; KCs, kupffer cells; LC, liver cirrhosis; LSECs, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells; MAFLD, metabolic associated fatty liver disease; NAFL, non-alcoholic fatty liver; NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-B; NK, natural killer; Nrf2, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2; ROS, reactive oxygen species; RSM, Radix Salvia Miltiorrhiza; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.

References

  • 1

    Abdelfattah-HassanA.ShalabyS. I.KhaterS. I.El-ShetryE. S.Abd El FadilH.ElsayedS. A. (2019). Panax Ginseng Is superior to Vitamin E as a Hepatoprotector Against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Liver Damage. Complement. Ther. Med.46, 95102. 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.08.005

  • 2

    Abu AhmadN.RaizmanM.WeizmannN.WasekB.ArningE.BottiglieriT.et al (2019). Betaine Attenuates Pathology by Stimulating Lipid Oxidation in Liver and Regulating Phospholipid Metabolism in Brain of Methionine-Choline-Deficient Rats. FASEB J.33 (8), 93349349. 10.1096/fj.201802683R

  • 3

    Agatonovic-KustrinS.KustrinE.GegechkoriV.MortonD. W. (2020). Anxiolytic Terpenoids and Aromatherapy for Anxiety and Depression. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.1260, 283296. 10.1007/978-3-030-42667-5_11

  • 4

    AgrawalA.BierutL. J. (2012). Identifying Genetic Variation for Alcohol Dependence. Alcohol. Res.34 (3), 274281.

  • 5

    AlacaN.ÖzbeyliD.UsluS.ŞahinH. H.YiğittürkG.KurtelH.et al (2017). Treatment with Milk Thistle Extract (Silybum marianum), Ursodeoxycholic Acid, or Their Combination Attenuates Cholestatic Liver Injury in Rats: Role of the Hepatic Stem Cells. Turk J. Gastroenterol.28 (6), 476484. 10.5152/tjg.2017.16742

  • 6

    ArulselvanP.FardM. T.TanW. S.GothaiS.FakuraziS.NorhaizanM. E.et al (2016). Role of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Inflammation. Oxid Med. Cel Longev2016, 5276130. 10.1155/2016/5276130

  • 7

    AtebaS. B.MvondoM. A.NgeuS. T.TchoumtchouaJ.AwounfackC. F.NjamenD.et al (2018). Natural Terpenoids Against Female Breast Cancer: A 5-year Recent Research. Curr. Med. Chem.25 (27), 31623213. 10.2174/0929867325666180214110932

  • 8

    AuyeungK. K.KoJ. K. (2009). Coptis Chinensis Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Growth Through Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug-Activated Gene Activation. Int. J. Mol. Med.24 (4), 571577. 10.3892/ijmm_00000267

  • 9

    BaiJ.WuJ.TangR.SunC.JiJ.YinZ.et al (2020). Emodin, A Natural Anthraquinone, Suppresses Liver Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo by Regulating VEGFR2 and miR-34a. Invest. New Drugs38 (2), 229245. 10.1007/s10637-019-00777-5

  • 10

    BarandehB.Amini MahabadiJ.AzadbakhtM.Gheibi HayatS. M.AminiA. (2019). The Protective Effects of Curcumin on Cytotoxic and Teratogenic Activity of Retinoic Acid in Mouse Embryonic Liver. J. Cel Biochem120 (12), 1937119376. 10.1002/jcb.28934

  • 11

    BasuRayS.SmagrisE.CohenJ. C.HobbsH. H. (2017). The PNPLA3 Variant Associated with Fatty Liver Disease (I148M) Accumulates on Lipid Droplets by Evading Ubiquitylation. Hepatology66 (4), 11111124. 10.1002/hep.29273

  • 12

    BellezzaI.GiambancoI.MinelliA.DonatoR. (2018). Nrf2-Keap1 Signaling in Oxidative and Reductive Stress. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Mol. Cel Res1865 (5), 721733. 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.02.010

  • 13

    BogdanA. R.MiyazawaM.HashimotoK.TsujiY. (2016). Regulators of Iron Homeostasis: New Players in Metabolism, Cell Death, and Disease. Trends Biochem. Sci.41 (3), 274286. 10.1016/j.tibs.2015.11.012

  • 14

    BuendiaI.MichalskaP.NavarroE.GameiroI.EgeaJ.LeónR. (2016). Nrf2-ARE Pathway: An Emerging Target Against Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Pharmacol. Ther.157, 84104. 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.11.003

  • 15

    BuzzettiE.PinzaniM.TsochatzisE. A. (2016). The Multiple-Hit Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Metabolism65 (8), 10381048. 10.1016/j.metabol.2015.12.012

  • 16

    CaglayanC.KandemirF. M.DarendelioğluE.YıldırımS.KucuklerS.DortbudakM. B. (2019). Rutin Ameliorates Mercuric Chloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats via Interfering with Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Apoptosis. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol.56, 6068. 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.07.011

  • 17

    CaiL.ZouS.LiangD.LuanL. (2018). Structural Characterization, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Polysaccharides from Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix. Carbohydr. Polym.184, 354365. 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.083

  • 18

    CampanaL.IredaleJ. P. (2017). Regression of Liver Fibrosis. Semin. Liver Dis.37 (1), 110. 10.1055/s-0036-1597816

  • 19

    CaoJ.MiaoQ.MiaoS.BiL.ZhangS.YangQ.et al (2015). Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) Exerts Antitumor Effects by Inducing Apoptosis and Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int. Immunopharmacol26 (1), 212220. 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.03.028

  • 20

    CaoL. J.HouZ. Y.LiH. D.ZhangB. K.FangP. F.XiangD. X.et al (2017). The Ethanol Extract of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Uralensis) Protects Against Triptolide-Induced Oxidative Stress Through Activation of Nrf2. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2017, 2752389. 10.1155/2017/2752389

  • 21

    CaoT.LuY.ZhuM.ChengJ.YeB.FangN.et al (2020). Effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Radix Astragali on the TGF-β/Smad/Wnt Pathway and the Pathological Process of Liver Fibrosis in Rats. Cel Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand)66 (6), 4651. 10.14715/cmb/2020.66.6.9

  • 22

    CeccariniM. R.VanniniS.CataldiS.MorettiM.VillariniM.FiorettiB.et al (2016). In Vitro Protective Effects of Lycium Barbarum Berries Cultivated in Umbria (Italy) on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Biomed. Res. Int.2016, 7529521. 10.1155/2016/7529521

  • 23

    CeniE.MelloT.GalliA. (2014). Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease: Role of Oxidative Metabolism. World J. Gastroenterol.20 (47), 1775617772. 10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17756

  • 24

    ChaiF. N.MaW. Y.ZhangJ.XuH. S.LiY. F.ZhouQ. D.et al (2018a). Coptisine from Rhizoma Coptidis Exerts an Anti-cancer Effect on Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Up-Regulating miR-122. Biomed. Pharmacother.103, 10021011. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.052

  • 25

    ChaiF. N.ZhangJ.XiangH. M.XuH. S.LiY. F.MaW. Y.et al (2018b). Protective Effect of Coptisine from Rhizoma Coptidis on LPS/D-GalN-induced Acute Liver Failure in Mice Through Up-Regulating Expression of miR-122. Biomed. Pharmacother.98, 180190. 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.133

  • 26

    ChanH. H. L.NgT. (2020). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Allergic Diseases. Curr. Allergy Asthma Rep.20 (11), 67. 10.1007/s11882-020-00959-9

  • 27

    ChanK. W.HoW. S. (2015). Anti-oxidative and Hepatoprotective Effects of Lithospermic Acid Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Oxidative Damage In Vitro and In Vivo. Oncol. Rep.34 (2), 673680. 10.3892/or.2015.4068

  • 28

    Chávez-TalaveraO.TailleuxA.LefebvreP.StaelsB. (2017). Bile Acid Control of Metabolism and Inflammation in Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Gastroenterology152 (7), 16791694.e3. 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.01.055

  • 29

    ChenQ.ZhangH.CaoY.LiY.SunS.ZhangJ.et al (2017). Schisandrin B Attenuates CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats by Regulation of Nrf2-ARE and TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathways. Drug Des. Devel Ther.11, 21792191. 10.2147/DDDT.S137507

  • 30

    ChenS.ZhaoX.RanL.WanJ.WangX.QinY.et al (2015). Resveratrol Improves Insulin Resistance, Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Dig. Liver Dis.47 (3), 226232. 10.1016/j.dld.2014.11.015

  • 31

    ChenY.YaoF.MingK.WangD.HuY.LiuJ. (2016). Polysaccharides from Traditional Chinese Medicines: Extraction, Purification, Modification, and Biological Activity. Molecules21 (12), 1705. 10.3390/molecules21121705

  • 32

    ChenZ.LiuF.ZhengN.GuoM.BaoL.ZhanY.et al (2019). Wuzhi Capsule (Schisandra Sphenanthera Extract) Attenuates Liver Steatosis and Inflammation During Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Development. Biomed. Pharmacother.110, 285293. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.069

  • 33

    ChengN.ChenS.LiuX.ZhaoH.CaoW. (2019). Impact of SchisandraChinensis Bee Pollen on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Gut Microbiota in HighFat Diet Induced Obese Mice. Nutrients11 (2), 346. 10.3390/nu11020346

  • 34

    ChengP.WangT.LiW.MuhammadI.WangH.SunX.et al (2017). Baicalin Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Inflammation in Chicken by Suppressing TLR4-Mediated NF-Κb Pathway. Front. Pharmacol.8, 547. 10.3389/fphar.2017.00547

  • 35

    ChopykD. M.GrakouiA. (2020). Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiome and Gut Barrier to Hepatic Disorders. Gastroenterology159 (3), 849863. 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.077

  • 36

    ChuangH. M.SuH. L.LiC.LinS. Z.YenS. Y.HuangM. H.et al (2016). The Role of Butylidenephthalide in Targeting the Microenvironment Which Contributes to Liver Fibrosis Amelioration. Front. Pharmacol.7, 112. 10.3389/fphar.2016.00112

  • 37

    Commission, C.P. (2015). Pharmacopoeia of the People’s republic of China. Beijing: China medical science and technology press.

  • 38

    CrocenziF. A.ZucchettiA. E.BoaglioA. C.BarossoI. R.Sanchez PozziE. J.MottinoA. D.et al (2012). Localization Status of Hepatocellular Transporters in Cholestasis. Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed.17, 12011218. 10.2741/3981

  • 39

    CuiY.JiangL.ShaoY.MeiL.TaoY. (2019). Anti-alcohol Liver Disease Effect of Gentianae Macrophyllae Extract Through MAPK/JNK/p38 Pathway. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.71 (2), 240250. 10.1111/jphp.13027

  • 40

    D'AtanasioE.TrombettaB.BonitoM.FinocchioA.Di VitoG.SeghizziM.et al (2018). The Peopling of the Last Green Sahara Revealed by High-Coverage Resequencing of Trans-saharan Patrilineages. Genome Biol.19 (1), 20. 10.1186/s13059-018-1393-5

  • 41

    Darvish DamavandiR.ShidfarF.NajafiM.JananiL.MasoodiM.Akbari-FakhrabadiM.et al (2021). Effect of Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) Extract on Liver Enzymes, Lipid Profile, and Glycemic Status in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial. Phytother Res.35 (6), 31453156. 10.1002/ptr.6972

  • 42

    DewidarB.MeyerC.DooleyS.Meindl-BeinkerA. N. (2019). TGF-β in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrogenesis-Updated 2019. Cells8 (11), 1419. 10.3390/cells8111419

  • 43

    DingC. H.ZhuH. (2020). Isatidis Folium Alleviates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Enhancing the Endogenous Antioxidant System. Environ. Toxicol.35 (11), 12511259. 10.1002/tox.22990

  • 44

    DingH. R.WangJ. L.RenH. Z.ShiX. L. (2018a). Lipometabolism and Glycometabolism in Liver Diseases. Biomed. Res. Int.2018, 1287127. 10.1155/2018/1287127

  • 45

    DingY.LiuP.ChenZ. L.ZhangS. J.WangY. Q.CaiX.et al (2018b). Emodin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Liver Injury via Inhibiting the TLR4 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo. Front. Pharmacol.9, 962. 10.3389/fphar.2018.00962

  • 46

    DodgeN. C.JacobsonJ. L.JacobsonS. W. (2014). Protective Effects of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase-Adh1b*3 Allele on Attention and Behavior Problems in Adolescents Exposed to Alcohol During Pregnancy. Neurotoxicol Teratol41, 4350. 10.1016/j.ntt.2013.11.003

  • 47

    DongQ.ChuF.WuC.HuoQ.GanH.LiX.et al (2016). Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi Extract Protects Against Alcohol Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice and Affects the Mechanism of ER Stress. Mol. Med. Rep.13 (4), 30523062. 10.3892/mmr.2016.4941

  • 48

    DongX.FuJ.YinX.YangC.NiJ. (2017). Aloe-emodin Induces Apoptosis in Human Liver HL-7702 Cells Through Fas Death Pathway and the Mitochondrial Pathway by Generating Reactive Oxygen Species. Phytother Res.31 (6), 927936. 10.1002/ptr.5820

  • 49

    DuX. S.LiH. D.YangX. J.LiJ. J.XuJ. J.ChenY.et al (2019). Wogonin Attenuates Liver Fibrosis via Regulating Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Apoptosis. Int. Immunopharmacol75, 105671. 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.05.056

  • 50

    DuanX.MengQ.WangC.LiuZ.LiuQ.SunH.et al (2017). Calycosin Attenuates Triglyceride Accumulation and Hepatic Fibrosis in Murine Model of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis via Activating Farnesoid X Receptor. Phytomedicine25, 8392. 10.1016/j.phymed.2016.12.006

  • 51

    EgresiA.SüleK.SzentmihályiK.BlázovicsA.FehérE.HagymásiK.et al (2020). Impact of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) on the Mycotoxin Caused Redox-Homeostasis Imbalance of Ducks Liver. Toxicon187, 181187. 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.09.002

  • 52

    El-SaiedM. A.SobehM.AbdoW.BadrO. M.YoussifL. T.ElsayedI. H.et al (2018). Rheum Palmatum Root Extract Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rats Treated with Diethylnitrosamine. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.70 (6), 821829. 10.1111/jphp.12899

  • 53

    El-SeragH. B. (2012). Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gastroenterology142 (6), 1264e1. 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.12.061

  • 54

    ElsawyH.BadrG. M.SedkyA.AbdallahB. M.AlzahraniA. M.Abdel-MoneimA. M. (2019). Rutin Ameliorates Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity and Hypogonadism in Male Rats. PeerJ7, e7011. 10.7717/peerj.7011

  • 55

    FanQ.ZhaoB.WangC.ZhangJ.WuJ.WangT.et al (2018). Subchronic Toxicity Studies of Cortex Dictamni Extracts in Mice and its Potential Hepatotoxicity Mechanisms In Vitro. Molecules23 (10), 2486. 10.3390/molecules23102486

  • 56

    FanningG. C.ZoulimF.HouJ.BertolettiA. (2019). Therapeutic Strategies for Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Towards a Cure. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov.18 (11), 827844. 10.1038/s41573-019-0037-0

  • 57

    FengR.ChenJ. H.LiuC. H.XiaF. B.XiaoZ.ZhangX.et al (2019). A Combination of Pueraria Lobata and Silybum marianum Protects Against Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice. Phytomedicine58, 152824. 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152824

  • 58

    FengT.WeiY.LeeR. J.ZhaoL. (2017). Liposomal Curcumin and its Application in Cancer. Int. J. Nanomedicine12, 60276044. 10.2147/IJN.S132434

  • 59

    FornerA.LlovetJ. M.BruixJ. (2012). Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Lancet379 (9822), 12451255. 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61347-0

  • 60

    FornerA.ReigM.BruixJ. (2018). Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Lancet391 (10127), 13011314. 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30010-2

  • 61

    FriedmanS. L.Neuschwander-TetriB. A.RinellaM.SanyalA. J. (2018). Mechanisms of NAFLD Development and Therapeutic Strategies. Nat. Med.24 (7), 908922. 10.1038/s41591-018-0104-9

  • 62

    FriedmanS. L. (1993). Seminars in Medicine of the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston. The Cellular Basis of Hepatic Fibrosis. Mechanisms and Treatment Strategies. N. Engl. J. Med.328 (25), 18281835. 10.1056/NEJM199306243282508

  • 63

    FuK.XuM.ZhouY.LiX.WangZ.LiuX.et al (2020). The Status Quo and Way Forwards on the Development of Tibetan Medicine and the Pharmacological Research of Tibetan Materia Medica. Pharmacol. Res.155, 104688. 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104688

  • 64

    GanD.ZhangW.HuangC.ChenJ.HeW.WangA.et al (2018a). Ursolic Acid Ameliorates CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis Through the NOXs/ROS Pathway. J. Cel Physiol233 (10), 67996813. 10.1002/jcp.26541

  • 65

    GanF.LiuQ.LiuY.HuangD.PanC.SongS.et al (2018b). Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides Improve CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis, Inflammatory Response and TLRs/NF-kB Signaling Pathway Expression in Wistar Rats. Life Sci.192, 205212. 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.11.047

  • 66

    GanboldM.OwadaY.OzawaY.ShimamotoY.FerdousiF.TominagaK.et al (2019). Isorhamnetin Alleviates Steatosis and Fibrosis in Mice with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Sci. Rep.9 (1), 16210. 10.1038/s41598-019-52736-y

  • 67

    GaoL. N.YanK.CuiY. L.FanG. W.WangY. F. (2015). Protective Effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius Extract Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury. World J. Gastroenterol.21 (30), 90799092. 10.3748/wjg.v21.i30.9079

  • 68

    GaoX.GuoS.ZhangS.LiuA.ShiL.ZhangY. (2018). Matrine Attenuates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Mitochondrion Dysfunction in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating SERCA Pathway. J. Transl Med.16 (1), 319. 10.1186/s12967-018-1685-2

  • 69

    GaoX.LiC.TangY. L.ZhangH.ChanS. W. (2016). Effect of Hedyotis Diffusa Water Extract on Protecting Human Hepatocyte Cells (LO2) from H2O2-Induced Cytotoxicity. Pharm. Biol.54 (7), 11481155. 10.3109/13880209.2015.1056310

  • 70

    GaoX.LiuL. (2016). Research Progress on Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Liver Disease. Chin. J. Gastroenterol. Imaging6 (02), 6265.

  • 71

    GaoZ.ZhangJ.WeiL.YangX.ZhangY.ChengB.et al (2020). The Protective Effects of Imperatorin on Acetaminophen Overdose-Induced Acute Liver Injury. Oxid Med. Cel Longev2020, 8026838. 10.1155/2020/8026838

  • 72

    GeL.XiaoL.WanH.LiJ.LvK.PengS.et al (2019). Chemical Constituents from Lonicera japonica Flower Buds and Their Anti-hepatoma and Anti-HBV Activities. Bioorg. Chem.92, 103198. 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103198

  • 73

    GhaffariA.RafrafM.NavekarR.SepehriB.Asghari-JafarabadiM.GhavamiS. M. (2019). Turmeric and Chicory Seed Have Beneficial Effects on Obesity Markers and Lipid Profile in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Int. J. Vitam Nutr. Res.89 (5-6), 293302. 10.1024/0300-9831/a000568

  • 74

    GheflatiA.AdelniaE.NadjarzadehA. (2019). The Clinical Effects of Purslane (Portulaca Oleracea) Seeds on Metabolic Profiles in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Phytother Res.33 (5), 15011509. 10.1002/ptr.6342

  • 75

    GohZ. H.TeeJ. K.HoH. K. (2020). An Evaluation of the In Vitro Roles and Mechanisms of Silibinin in Reducing Pyrazinamide- and Isoniazid-Induced Hepatocellular Damage. Int. J. Mol. Sci.21 (10), 3714. 10.3390/ijms21103714

  • 76

    GongL.ZhouH.WangC.HeL.GuoC.PengC.et al (2021). Hepatoprotective Effect of Forsythiaside a Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Zebrafish: Coupling Network Pharmacology with Biochemical Pharmacology. J. Ethnopharmacol271, 113890. 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113890

  • 77

    GuM.ZhangS.ZhaoY.HuangJ.WangY.LiY.et al (2017). Cycloastragenol Improves Hepatic Steatosis by Activating Farnesoid X Receptor Signalling. Pharmacol. Res.121, 2232. 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.04.021

  • 78

    GuX.ManautouJ. E. (2012). Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Chemical Liver Injury. Expert Rev. Mol. Med.14, e4. 10.1017/S1462399411002110

  • 79

    GündüzE.DursunR.ZenginY.İçerM.DurgunH. M.KanıcıA.et al (2015). Lycium Barbarum Extract Provides Effective protection Against Paracetamol-Induced Acute Hepatotoxicity in Rats. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Med.8 (5), 78987905.

  • 80

    GuoS.WangG.YangZ. (2021). Ligustilide Alleviates the Insulin Resistance, Lipid Accumulation, and Pathological Injury with Elevated Phosphorylated AMPK Level in Rats with Diabetes Mellitus. J. Recept Signal. Transduct Res.41 (1), 8592. 10.1080/10799893.2020.1789877

  • 81

    GuoyinZ.HaoP.MinL.WeiG.ZheC.ChangquanL. (20172017). Antihepatocarcinoma Effect of Portulaca Oleracea L. In Mice by PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2/HO-1/nf-Κb Pathway. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2017, 8231358. 10.1155/2017/8231358

  • 82

    GuptaV. K.SiddiqiN. J.OjhaA. K.SharmaB. (2019). Hepatoprotective Effect of Aloe Vera Against Cartap- and Malathion-Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats. J. Cel Physiol234 (10), 1832918343. 10.1002/jcp.28466

  • 83

    HajighasemA.FarzanegiP.MazaheriZ.NaghizadehM.SalehiG. (2018). Effects of Resveratrol, Exercises and Their Combination on Farnesoid X Receptor, Liver X Receptor and Sirtuin 1 Gene Expression and Apoptosis in the Liver of Elderly Rats with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver. PeerJ6, e5522. 10.7717/peerj.5522

  • 84

    HanB.GaoY.WangY.WangL.ShangZ.WangS.et al (2016). Protective Effect of a Polysaccharide from Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae on Acute Liver Injury in Mice. Int. J. Biol. Macromol87, 8591. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.01.086

  • 85

    HanB.KimS. M.NamG. E.KimS. H.ParkS. J.ParkY. K.et al (2020). A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Centered Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Artemisia Annua L. Extract for Improvement of Liver Function. Clin. Nutr. Res.9 (4), 258270. 10.7762/cnr.2020.9.4.258

  • 86

    HanC.WeiY.WangX.BaC.ShiW. (2019). Protective Effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Polysaccharides on Liver Injury in Chickens. Poult. Sci.98 (9), 34963503. 10.3382/ps/pez153

  • 87

    HasanI. H.El-DesoukyM. A.HozayenW. G.Abd el AzizG. M. (2016). Protective Effect of Zingiber Officinale Against CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis Is Mediated Through Downregulating the TGF-β1/Smad3 and NF-ĸb/iĸb Pathways. Pharmacology97 (1-2), 19. 10.1159/000441229

  • 88

    HeY.LiuY. (2021). Research Progress of Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis. J. integrated Chin. West. Med. Liver Dis.31 (03), 286288.

  • 89

    HeissE. H.SchachnerD.ZimmermannK.DirschV. M. (2013). Glucose Availability Is a Decisive Factor for Nrf2-Mediated Gene Expression. Redox Biol.1, 359365. 10.1016/j.redox.2013.06.001

  • 90

    Hernandez-GeaV.FriedmanS. L. (2011). Pathogenesis of Liver Fibrosis. Annu. Rev. Pathol.6, 425456. 10.1146/annurev-pathol-011110-130246

  • 91

    HeskethT.ZhuW. X. (1997). Health in China. Traditional Chinese Medicine: One Country, Two Systems. BMJ315 (7100), 115117. 10.1136/bmj.315.7100.115

  • 92

    HoC.GaoY.ZhengD.LiuY.ShanS.FangB.et al (2019). Alisol A Attenuates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity and Metabolic Disorders via the AMPK/ACC/SREBP-1c Pathway. J. Cel Mol Med23 (8), 51085118. 10.1111/jcmm.14380

  • 93

    HoC. Y.ChengY. T.ChauC. F.YenG. C. (2012). Effect of Diallyl Sulfide on In Vitro and In Vivo Nrf2-Mediated Pulmonic Antioxidant Enzyme Expression via Activation ERK/p38 Signaling Pathway. J. Agric. Food Chem.60 (1), 100107. 10.1021/jf203800d

  • 94

    HoltM.JuC. (2010). “Drug-induced Liver Injury,” in Handb Exp Pharmacol. Editor BarrettJ. E. (New York, NY: Springer), 196.

  • 95

    HosnyS.SahyonH.YoussefM.NegmA. (2021). Oleanolic Acid Suppressed DMBA-Induced Liver Carcinogenesis Through Induction of Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis and Autophagy. Nutr. Cancer73 (6), 968982. 10.1080/01635581.2020.1776887

  • 96

    HuB.GongjiG.TaN.WuliJ. (2019). Research Progress of Alcoholic Liver Disease. J. inner mongolia Univ. nationalities34 (06), 535538.

  • 97

    HuJ.LiuK. (2017). Complete and Incomplete Hepatitis B Virus Particles: Formation, Function, and Application. Viruses9 (3), 56. 10.3390/v9030056

  • 98

    HuN.GuoC.DaiX.WangC.GongL.YuL.et al (2020a). Forsythiae Fructuse Water Extract Attenuates Liver Fibrosis via TLR4/MyD88/NF-Κb and TGF-Β/smads Signaling Pathways. J. Ethnopharmacol262, 113275. 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113275

  • 99

    HuN.WangC.DaiX.ZhouM.GongL.YuL.et al (2020b). Phillygenin Inhibits LPS-Induced Activation and Inflammation of LX2 Cells by TLR4/MyD88/NF-Κb Signaling Pathway. J. Ethnopharmacol248, 112361. 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112361

  • 100

    HuY.BiX.ZhaoP.ZhengH.HuangX. (2015). Cytotoxic Activities, SAR and Anti-invasion Effects of Butylphthalide Derivatives on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC7721 Cells. Molecules20 (11), 2031220319. 10.3390/molecules201119699

  • 101

    HuangL.LiY.PanH.LuY.ZhouX.ShiF. (2020). Cortex Dictamni-Induced Liver Injury in Mice: The Role of P450-Mediated Metabolic Activation of Furanoids. Toxicol. Lett.330, 4152. 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.05.004

  • 102

    HuangW. H.LiaoW. R.SunR. X. (2016). Astragalus Polysaccharide Induces the Apoptosis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Decreasing the Expression of Notch1. Int. J. Mol. Med.38 (2), 551557. 10.3892/ijmm.2016.2632

  • 103

    HuangY. C.TsayH. J.LuM. K.LinC. H.YehC. W.LiuH. K.et al (2017). Astragalus Membranaceus-Polysaccharides Ameliorates Obesity, Hepatic Steatosis, Neuroinflammation and Cognition Impairment without Affecting Amyloid Deposition in Metabolically Stressed APPswe/PS1dE9 Mice. Int. J. Mol. Sci.18 (12), 2746. 10.3390/ijms18122746

  • 104

    HungT. C.JasseyA.LinC. J.LiuC. H.LinC. C.YenM. H.et al (2018). Methanolic Extract of Rhizoma Coptidis Inhibits the Early Viral Entry Steps of Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Viruses10 (12), 669. 10.3390/v10120669

  • 105

    JangE.KimS. Y.LeeN. R.YiC. M.HongD. R.LeeW. S.et al (2017). Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of Artemisia Capillaris Extract Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through the Inhibition of IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis. Oncol. Rep.37 (1), 526532. 10.3892/or.2016.5283

  • 106

    JangM. K.YunY. R.KimS. H.KimJ. H.JungM. H. (2016). Protective Effect of Gomisin N Against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Hepatic Steatosis. Biol. Pharm. Bull.39 (5), 832838. 10.1248/bpb.b15-01020

  • 107

    JarretA.McFarlandA. P.HornerS. M.KellA.SchwerkJ.HongM.et al (2016). Hepatitis-C-virus-induced microRNAs Dampen Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Signaling. Nat. Med.22 (12), 14751481. 10.1038/nm.4211

  • 108

    JemalA.BrayF.CenterM. M.FerlayJ.WardE.FormanD. (2011). Global Cancer Statistics. CA Cancer J. Clin.61 (2), 6990. 10.3322/caac.20107

  • 109

    JiaR.GuZ.HeQ.DuJ.CaoL.JeneyG.et al (2019). Anti-oxidative, Anti-inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Effects of Radix Bupleuri Extract Against Oxidative Damage in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) via Nrf2 and TLRs Signaling Pathway. Fish. Shellfish Immunol.93, 395405. 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.07.080

  • 110

    JiangP.ZhangX.HuangY.ChengN.MaY. (2017a). Hepatotoxicity Induced by Sophora Flavescens and Hepatic Accumulation of Kurarinone, a Major Hepatotoxic Constituent of Sophora Flavescens in Rats. Molecules22 (11), 1809. 10.3390/molecules22111809

  • 111

    JiangY.FanX.WangY.ChenP.ZengH.TanH.et al (2015). Schisandrol B Protects Against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Inhibition of CYP-Mediated Bioactivation and Regulation of Liver Regeneration. Toxicol. Sci.143 (1), 107115. 10.1093/toxsci/kfu216

  • 112

    JiangY.ZhangL.RupasingheH. P. (2017b). Antiproliferative Effects of Extracts from Salvia Officinalis L. And Saliva Miltiorrhiza Bunge on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Biomed. Pharmacother.85, 5767. 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.11.113

  • 113

    JinH.LianN.BianM.ZhangC.ChenX.ShaoJ.et al (2018). Oroxylin A Prevents Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Steatosis Through Inhibition of Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1alpha. Chem. Biol. Interact285, 1420. 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.02.025

  • 114

    JinH.SakaidaI.TsuchiyaM.OkitaK. (2005). Herbal Medicine Rhei Rhizome Prevents Liver Fibrosis in Rat Liver Cirrhosis Induced by a Choline-Deficient L-Amino Acid-Defined Diet. Life Sci.76 (24), 28052816. 10.1016/j.lfs.2004.09.041

  • 115

    JinQ.JiangS.WuY. L.BaiT.YangY.JinX.et al (2014). Hepatoprotective Effect of Cryptotanshinone from Salvia Miltiorrhiza in D-Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure. Phytomedicine21 (2), 141147. 10.1016/j.phymed.2013.07.016

  • 116

    JindalR.SinhaR.BrarP. (2019). Evaluating the Protective Efficacy of Silybum marianum Against Deltamethrin Induced Hepatotoxicity in Piscine Model. Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol.66, 6268. 10.1016/j.etap.2018.12.014

  • 117

    JungJ. C.LeeY. H.KimS. H.KimK. J.KimK. M.OhS.et al (2016). Hepatoprotective Effect of Licorice, the Root of Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Fischer, in Alcohol-Induced Fatty Liver Disease. BMC Complement. Altern. Med.16, 19. 10.1186/s12906-016-0997-0

  • 118

    JungK. H.RummanM.YanH.CheonM. J.ChoiJ. G.JinX.et al (2018). An Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Artemisia Capillaris (ACE-63) Induced Apoptosis and Anti-angiogenesis via Inhibition of PI3K/AKT Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Phytother Res.32 (10), 20342046. 10.1002/ptr.6135

  • 119

    JungS.SonH.HwangC. E.ChoK. M.ParkS. W.KimH.et al (2020). The Root of Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb. Alleviates Non-alcoholic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice. Nutrients12 (8), 2353. 10.3390/nu12082353

  • 120

    KalyanaramanB. (2013). Teaching the Basics of Redox Biology to Medical and Graduate Students: Oxidants, Antioxidants and Disease Mechanisms. Redox Biol.1, 244257. 10.1016/j.redox.2013.01.014

  • 121

    KandeilM. A.HashemR. M.MahmoudM. O.HettaM. H.TohamyM. A. (2019). Zingiber Officinale Extract and omega-3 Fatty Acids Ameliorate Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in a Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Rat Model. J. Food Biochem.43 (12), e13076. 10.1111/jfbc.13076

  • 122

    KeZ.ZhaoY.TanS.ChenH.LiY.ZhouZ.et al (2020). Citrus Reticulata Blanco Peel Extract Ameliorates Hepatic Steatosis, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in HF and MCD Diet-Induced NASH C57BL/6 J Mice. J. Nutr. Biochem.83, 108426. 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108426

  • 123

    KimH. G.LeeS. B.LeeJ. S.KimW. Y.ChoiS. H.SonC. G. (2017a). Artemisia Iwayomogi Plus Curcuma Longa Synergistically Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in HepG2 Cells. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2017, 4390636. 10.1155/2017/4390636

  • 124

    KimH. J.ParkK. K.ChungW. Y.LeeS. K.KimK. R. (2017b). Protective Effect of White-fleshed Peach (Prunus Persica (L.) Batsch) on Chronic Nicotine-Induced Toxicity. J. Cancer Prev.22 (1), 2232. 10.15430/JCP.2017.22.1.22

  • 125

    KimH. Y.KimJ. K.ChoiJ. H.JungJ. Y.OhW. Y.KimD. C.et al (2010). Hepatoprotective Effect of Pinoresinol on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Damage in Mice. J. Pharmacol. Sci.112 (1), 105112. 10.1254/jphs.09234fp

  • 126

    KimJ.JungK. H.YanH. H.CheonM. J.KangS.JinX.et al (2018). Artemisia Capillaris Leaves Inhibit Cell Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. BMC Complement. Altern. Med.18 (1), 147. 10.1186/s12906-018-2217-6

  • 127

    KimJ.KimC. S.JoK.LeeI. S.KimJ. H.KimJ. S. (2020a). POCU1b, the n-Butanol Soluble Fraction of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Attenuates Obesity, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver, and Insulin Resistance via Inhibitions of Pancreatic Lipase, cAMP-Dependent PDE Activity, AMPK Activation, and SOCS-3 Suppression. Nutrients12 (12), 3612. 10.3390/nu12123612

  • 128

    KimT.SongB.ChoK. S.LeeI. S. (2020b). Therapeutic Potential of Volatile Terpenes and Terpenoids from Forests for Inflammatory Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci.21 (6), 2187. 10.3390/ijms21062187

  • 129

    KlaikeawN.WongphoomJ.WerawatganonD.ChayanupatkulM.SiriviriyakulP. (2020). Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Effects of Aloe Vera in Rats with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis. World J. Hepatol.12 (7), 363377. 10.4254/wjh.v12.i7.363

  • 130

    KolodziejczykA. A.ZhengD.ShiboletO.ElinavE. (2019). The Role of the Microbiome in NAFLD and NASH. EMBO Mol. Med.11 (2), e9302. 10.15252/emmm.201809302

  • 131

    KoneruM.SahuB. D.GudemS.KunchaM.RavuriH. G.KumarJ. M.et al (2017). Polydatin Alleviates Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice: Relevance of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Hepatic Antioxidants. Phytomedicine27, 2332. 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.01.013

  • 132

    KongZ. L.KuoH. P.JohnsonA.WuL. C.ChangK. L. B. (2019). Curcumin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Markedly Enhanced Cytotoxicity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci.20 (12), 2918. 10.3390/ijms20122918

  • 133

    KuoC. Y.ChiuV.HsiehP. C.HuangC. Y.HuangS. J.TzengI. S.et al (2020). Chrysophanol Attenuates Hepatitis B Virus X Protein-Induced Hepatic Stellate Cell Fibrosis by Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Ferroptosis. J. Pharmacol. Sci.144 (3), 172182. 10.1016/j.jphs.2020.07.014

  • 134

    LeJ.FuY.HanQ.MaY.JiH.WeiX.et al (2020). Transcriptome Analysis of the Inhibitory Effect of Sennoside A on the Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Front. Pharmacol.11, 566099. 10.3389/fphar.2020.566099

  • 135

    LeeC. K.ParkK. K.HwangJ. K.LeeS. K.ChungW. Y. (2008). The Pericarp Extract of Prunus Persica Attenuates Chemotherapy-Induced Acute Nephrotoxicity and Hepatotoxicity in Mice. J. Med. Food11 (2), 302306. 10.1089/jmf.2007.545

  • 136

    LeeE. H.BaekS. Y.ParkJ. Y.KimY. W. (2020). Emodin in Rheum Undulatum Inhibits Oxidative Stress in the Liver via AMPK with Hippo/Yap Signalling Pathway. Pharm. Biol.58 (1), 333341. 10.1080/13880209.2020.1750658

  • 137

    LeeG. H.LeeH. Y.ChoiM. K.ChungH. W.KimS. W.ChaeH. J. (2017a). Protective Effect of Curcuma Longa L. Extract on CCl4-Induced Acute Hepatic Stress. BMC Res. Notes10 (1), 77. 10.1186/s13104-017-2409-z

  • 138

    LeeH. Y.KimS. W.LeeG. H.ChoiM. K.ChungH. W.LeeY. C.et al (2017b). Curcumin and Curcuma Longa L. Extract Ameliorate Lipid Accumulation Through the Regulation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Redox and ER Stress. Sci. Rep.7 (1), 6513. 10.1038/s41598-017-06872-y

  • 139

    LeeW.KooH. R.ChoiY. J.ChoiJ. G.OhM. S.JinX.et al (2019). Z-ligustilide and N-Butylidenephthalide Isolated from the Aerial Parts of Angelica Tenuissima Inhibit Lipid Accumulation In Vitro and In Vivo. Planta Med.85 (9-10), 719728. 10.1055/a-0901-1307

  • 140

    LeungT. M.NietoN. (2013). CYP2E1 and Oxidant Stress in Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. J. Hepatol.58 (2), 395398. 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.08.018

  • 141

    LiC. H.TangS. C.WongC. H.WangY.JiangJ. D.ChenY. (2018a). Berberine Induces miR-373 Expression in Hepatocytes to Inactivate Hepatic Steatosis Associated AKT-S6 Kinase Pathway. Eur. J. Pharmacol.825, 107118. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2018.02.035

  • 142

    LiD. S.HuangQ. F.GuanL. H.ZhangH. Z.LiX.FuK. L.et al (2020a). Targeted Bile Acids and Gut Microbiome Profiles Reveal the Hepato-Protective Effect of WZ Tablet (Schisandra Sphenanthera Extract) Against LCA-Induced Cholestasis. Chin. J. Nat. Med.18 (3), 211218. 10.1016/S1875-5364(20)30023-6

  • 143

    LiJ.DuanB.GuoY.ZhouR.SunJ.BieB.et al (2018b). Baicalein Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to 5-FU and Epirubicin by Activating Apoptosis and Ameliorating P-Glycoprotein Activity. Biomed. Pharmacother.98, 806812. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.002

  • 144

    LiJ. P.YuanY.ZhangW. Y.JiangZ.HuT. J.FengY. T.et al (2019a). Effect of Radix Isatidis Polysaccharide on Alleviating Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Cells and Rats. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.71 (2), 220229. 10.1111/jphp.13023

  • 145

    LiJ.ZhangL.GaoH.SongX.WuX. (2014). Progress in Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alcoholic Cirrhosis. Med. innovation China11 (35), 147149.

  • 146

    LiQ.LiH. J.XuT.DuH.Huan GangC. L.FanG.et al (2018c). Natural Medicines Used in the Traditional Tibetan Medical System for the Treatment of Liver Diseases. Front. Pharmacol.9, 29. 10.3389/fphar.2018.00029

  • 147

    LiS.QinQ.LuoD.PanW.WeiY.XuY.et al (2020b). Hesperidin Ameliorates Liver Ischemia/reperfusion Injury via Activation of the Akt Pathway. Mol. Med. Rep.22 (6), 45194530. 10.3892/mmr.2020.11561

  • 148

    LiS.TanH. Y.WangN.ZhangZ. J.LaoL.WongC. W.et al (2015). The Role of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Liver Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci.16 (11), 2608726124. 10.3390/ijms161125942

  • 149

    LiS.WangQ.TaoY.LiuC. (2016). Swertiamarin Attenuates Experimental Rat Hepatic Fibrosis by Suppressing Angiotensin II-Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor-Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.359 (2), 247255. 10.1124/jpet.116.234179

  • 150

    LiT.ChiangJ. Y. (2014). Bile Acid Signaling in Metabolic Disease and Drug Therapy. Pharmacol. Rev.66 (4), 948983. 10.1124/pr.113.008201

  • 151

    LiX.JinQ.YaoQ.XuB.LiL.ZhangS.et al (2018d). The Flavonoid Quercetin Ameliorates Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis by Regulating Hepatic Macrophages Activation and Polarization in Mice. Front. Pharmacol.9, 72. 10.3389/fphar.2018.00072

  • 152

    LiX.LiX.LuJ.HuangY.LvL.LuanY.et al (2017). Saikosaponins Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice via Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation and Oxidative Stress: A Proteomic Study. BMC Complement. Altern. Med.17 (1), 219. 10.1186/s12906-017-1733-0

  • 153

    LiX.SunR.LiuR. (2019b). Natural Products in Licorice for the Therapy of Liver Diseases: Progress and Future Opportunities. Pharmacol. Res.144, 210226. 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.04.025

  • 154

    LiX.ZhangY.JinQ.XiaK. L.JiangM.CuiB. W.et al (2018e). Liver Kinase B1/AMP-Activated Protein Kinase-Mediated Regulation by Gentiopicroside Ameliorates P2X7 Receptor-dependent Alcoholic Hepatosteatosis. Br. J. Pharmacol.175 (9), 14511470. 10.1111/bph.14145

  • 155

    LiY.ShenF.BaoY.ChenD.LuH. (2019c). Apoptotic Effects of Rhein Through the Mitochondrial Pathways, Two Death Receptor Pathways, and Reducing Autophagy in Human Liver L02 Cells. Environ. Toxicol.34 (12), 12921302. 10.1002/tox.22830

  • 156

    LiY.YeY.ChenH. (2018g). Astragaloside IV Inhibits Cell Migration and Viability of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Suppressing Long Noncoding RNA ATB. Biomed. Pharmacother.99, 134141. 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.12.108

  • 157

    LiY. C.QiaoJ. Y.WangB. Y.BaiM.ShenJ. D.ChengY. X. (2018f). Paeoniflorin Ameliorates Fructose-Induced Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Steatosis by Activating LKB1/AMPK and AKT Pathways. Nutrients10 (8), 1024. 10.3390/nu10081024

  • 158

    LiangW.ZhangD.KangJ.MengX.YangJ.YangL.et al (2018). Protective Effects of Rutin on Liver Injury in Type 2 Diabetic Db/db Mice. Biomed. Pharmacother.107, 721728. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.046

  • 159

    LiaoC. C.DayY. J.LeeH. C.LiouJ. T.ChouA. H.LiuF. C. (2017). ERK Signaling Pathway Plays a Key Role in Baicalin Protection Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury. Am. J. Chin. Med.45 (1), 105121. 10.1142/S0192415X17500082

  • 160

    LiaoX.BuY.JiaQ. (2020). Traditional Chinese Medicine as Supportive Care for the Management of Liver Cancer: Past, Present, and Future. Genes Dis.7 (3), 370379. 10.1016/j.gendis.2019.10.016

  • 161

    LimJ. Y.LeeJ. H.YunD. H.LeeY. M.KimD. K. (2021). Inhibitory Effects of Nodakenin on Inflammation and Cell Death in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury Mice. Phytomedicine81, 153411. 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153411

  • 162

    LinC. C.NgL. T.HsuF. F.ShiehD. E.ChiangL. C. (2004). Cytotoxic Effects of Coptis Chinensis and Epimedium Sagittatum Extracts and Their Major Constituents (Berberine, Coptisine and Icariin) on Hepatoma and Leukaemia Cell Growth. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol.31 (1-2), 6569. 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2004.03951.x

  • 163

    LinE. Y.ChagnaadorjA.HuangS. J.WangC. C.ChiangY. H.ChengC. W. (2018a2018). Hepatoprotective Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb. Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Liver Injury. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2018, 4130307. 10.1155/2018/4130307

  • 164

    LinW.ZhongM.YinH.ChenY.CaoQ.WangC.et al (2016). Emodin Induces Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis Through MAPK and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways In Vitro and In Vivo. Oncol. Rep.36 (2), 961967. 10.3892/or.2016.4861

  • 165

    LinY.KuangY.LiK.WangS.JiS.ChenK.et al (2017). Nrf2 Activators from Glycyrrhiza Inflata and Their Hepatoprotective Activities Against CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Mice. Bioorg. Med. Chem.25 (20), 55225530. 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.08.018

  • 166

    LinY. N.ChangH. Y.WangC. C. N.ChuF. Y.ShenH. Y.ChenC. J.et al (2018b). Oleanolic Acid Inhibits Liver X Receptor Alpha and Pregnane X Receptor to Attenuate Ligand-Induced Lipogenesis. J. Agric. Food Chem.66 (42), 1096410976. 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b03372

  • 167

    LiouC. J.LeeY. K.TingN. C.ChenY. L.ShenS. C.WuS. J.et al (2019). Protective Effects of Licochalcone A Ameliorates Obesity and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via Promotion of the Sirt-1/AMPK Pathway in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet. Cells8 (5), 447. 10.3390/cells8050447

  • 168

    LiuB.DengX.JiangQ.LiG.ZhangJ.ZhangN.et al (2020a). Scoparone Improves Hepatic Inflammation and Autophagy in Mice with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis by Regulating the ROS/P38/Nrf2 axis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Macrophages. Biomed. Pharmacother.125, 109895. 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.109895

  • 169

    LiuC.ChenJ.LiE.FanQ.WangD.LiP.et al (2015). The Comparison of Antioxidative and Hepatoprotective Activities of Codonopsis Pilosula Polysaccharide (CP) and Sulfated CP. Int. Immunopharmacol24 (2), 299305. 10.1016/j.intimp.2014.12.023

  • 170

    LiuD. M.YangD.ZhouC. Y.WuJ. S.ZhangG. L.WangP.et al (2020b). Aloe-emodin Induces Hepatotoxicity by the Inhibition of Multidrug Resistance Protein 2. Phytomedicine68, 153148. 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.153148

  • 171

    LiuF.ZhangJ.QianJ.WuG.MaZ. (2018). Emodin Alleviates CCl4-induced L-iver F-ibrosis by S-uppressing E-pithelial-mesenchymal T-ransition and T-ransforming G-rowth F-actor-β1 in R-ats. Mol. Med. Rep.18 (3), 32623270. 10.3892/mmr.2018.9324

  • 172

    LiuN.FengJ.LuX.YaoZ.LiuQ.LvY.et al (2019a). Isorhamnetin Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Reducing Autophagy and Inhibiting Extracellular Matrix Formation via the TGF-β1/Smad3 and TGF-Β1/p38 MAPK Pathways. Mediators Inflamm.2019, 6175091. 10.1155/2019/6175091

  • 173

    LiuQ.PanR.DingL.ZhangF.HuL.DingB.et al (2017). Rutin Exhibits Hepatoprotective Effects in a Mouse Model of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Reducing Hepatic Lipid Levels and Mitigating Lipid-Induced Oxidative Injuries. Int. Immunopharmacol49, 132141. 10.1016/j.intimp.2017.05.026

  • 174

    LiuR.LiX.HuangN.FanM.SunR. (2020c). Toxicity of Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbal and Mineral Products. Adv. Pharmacol.87, 301346. 10.1016/bs.apha.2019.08.001

  • 175

    LiuW.LiS.QuZ.LuoY.ChenR.WeiS.et al (2019b). Betulinic Acid Induces Autophagy-Mediated Apoptosis Through Suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway and Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Am. J. Transl Res.11 (11), 69526964.

  • 176

    LiuY.BiY.MoC.ZengT.HuangS.GaoL.et al (2019c). Betulinic Acid Attenuates Liver Fibrosis by Inducing Autophagy via the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway. J. Nat. Med.73 (1), 179189. 10.1007/s11418-018-1262-2

  • 177

    LlovetJ. M.KelleyR. K.VillanuevaA.SingalA. G.PikarskyE.RoayaieS.et al (2021). Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers7 (1), 6. 10.1038/s41572-020-00240-3

  • 178

    López-NavarreteG.Ramos-MartínezE.Suárez-ÁlvarezK.Aguirre-GarcíaJ.Ledezma-SotoY.León-CabreraS.et al (2011). Th2-associated Alternative Kupffer Cell Activation Promotes Liver Fibrosis Without Inducing Local Inflammation. Int. J. Biol. Sci.7 (9), 12731286. 10.7150/ijbs.7.1273

  • 179

    LuC.XuW.ShaoJ.ZhangF.ChenA.ZhengS. (2017). Nrf2 Activation Is Required for Ligustrazine to Inhibit Hepatic Steatosis in Alcohol-Preferring Mice and Hepatocytes. Toxicol. Sci.155 (2), 432443. 10.1093/toxsci/kfw228

  • 180

    LukefahrA. L.McEvoyS.AlfafaraC.FunkJ. L. (2018). Drug-induced Autoimmune Hepatitis Associated with Turmeric Dietary Supplement Use. BMJ Case Rep.2018, bcr2018224611. 10.1136/bcr-2018-224611

  • 181

    LunaJ. M.ScheelT. K.DaninoT.ShawK. S.MeleA.FakJ. J.et al (2015). Hepatitis C Virus RNA Functionally Sequesters miR-122. Cell160 (6), 10991110. 10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.025

  • 182

    LvH.XiaoQ.ZhouJ.FengH.LiuG.CiX. (2018). Licochalcone A Upregulates Nrf2 Antioxidant Pathway and Thereby Alleviates Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity. Front. Pharmacol.9, 147. 10.3389/fphar.2018.00147

  • 183

    MaB. X.MengX. S.TongJ.GeL. L.ZhouG.WangY. W. (2018a). Protective Effects of Coptis Chinensis Inflorescence Extract and Linarin Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Damage in HepG2 Cells Through the MAPK/Keap1-Nrf2 Pathway. Food Funct.9 (4), 23532361. 10.1039/c8fo00078f

  • 184

    MaP.SunC.LiW.DengW.Adu-FrimpongM.YuJ.et al (2020). Extraction and Structural Analysis of Angelica Sinensis Polysaccharide with Low Molecular Weight and its Lipid-Lowering Effect on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Food Sci. Nutr.8 (7), 32123224. 10.1002/fsn3.1581

  • 185

    MaQ. (2013). Role of Nrf2 in Oxidative Stress and Toxicity. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol.53, 401426. 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-011112-140320

  • 186

    MaX.ChiY. H.NiuM.ZhuY.ZhaoY. L.ChenZ.et al (2016). Metabolomics Coupled with Multivariate Data and Pathway Analysis on Potential Biomarkers in Cholestasis and Intervention Effect of Paeonia Lactiflora Pall. Front. Pharmacol.7, 14. 10.3389/fphar.2016.00014

  • 187

    MaX.WenJ. X.GaoS. J.HeX.LiP. Y.YangY. X.et al (2018b). Paeonia Lactiflora Pall. Regulates the NF-Κb-NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway to Alleviate Cholestasis in Rats. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.70 (12), 16751687. 10.1111/jphp.13008

  • 188

    MaX.ZhaoY. L.ZhuY.ChenZ.WangJ. B.LiR. Y.et al (2015). Paeonia Lactiflora Pall. Protects Against ANIT-Induced Cholestasis by Activating Nrf2 via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway. Drug Des. Devel Ther.9, 50615074. 10.2147/DDDT.S90030

  • 189

    MaX. Y.ZhangM.FangG.ChengC. J.WangM. K.HanY. M.et al (2021). Ursolic Acid Reduces Hepatocellular Apoptosis and Alleviates Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury via Irreversible Inhibition of CASP3 In Vivo. Acta Pharmacol. Sin42 (7), 11011110. 10.1038/s41401-020-00534-y

  • 190

    MaY.ChenK.LvL.WuS.GuoZ. (2019). Ferulic Acid Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Modulates the Gut Microbiota Composition in High-Fat Diet Fed ApoE-/- Mice. Biomed. Pharmacother.113, 108753. 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108753

  • 191

    MahmoudA. M.HusseinO. E.HozayenW. G.Bin-JumahM.Abd El-TwabS. M. (2020). Ferulic Acid Prevents Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Liver Injury via Upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling in Methotrexate-Induced Rats. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int.27 (8), 79107921. 10.1007/s11356-019-07532-6

  • 192

    MahmoudM. F.GamalS.El-FayoumiH. M. (2014). Limonin Attenuates Hepatocellular Injury Following Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rats via Toll-like Receptor Dependent Pathway. Eur. J. Pharmacol.740, 676682. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.06.010

  • 193

    MannsM. P.ButiM.GaneE.PawlotskyJ. M.RazaviH.TerraultN.et al (2017). Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers3, 17006. 10.1038/nrdp.2017.6

  • 194

    MantovaniA.GattiD.ZoppiniG.LippiG.BonoraE.ByrneC. D.et al (2019). Association Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Reduced Bone Mineral Density in Children: A Meta-Analysis. Hepatology70 (3), 812823. 10.1002/hep.30538

  • 195

    MarvieP.LisbonneM.L'Helgoualc'hA.RauchM.TurlinB.PreisserL.et al (2010). Interleukin-33 Overexpression Is Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Mice and Humans. J. Cel Mol Med14 (6B), 17261739. 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009.00801.x

  • 196

    MedzhitovR. (2008). Origin and Physiological Roles of Inflammation. Nature454 (7203), 428435. 10.1038/nature07201

  • 197

    MelloT.CeniE.SurrentiC.GalliA. (2008). Alcohol Induced Hepatic Fibrosis: Role of Acetaldehyde. Mol. Aspects Med.29 (1-2), 1721. 10.1016/j.mam.2007.10.001

  • 198

    MengQ.ChenX.WangC.LiuQ.SunH.SunP.et al (2015). Protective Effects of Alisol B 23-acetate from Edible Botanical Rhizoma Alismatis Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice. Food Funct.6 (4), 12411250. 10.1039/c5fo00082c

  • 199

    MengQ.DuanX. P.WangC. Y.LiuZ. H.SunP. Y.HuoX. K.et al (2017). Alisol B 23-acetate Protects Against Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice via Farnesoid X Receptor Activation. Acta Pharmacol. Sin38 (1), 6979. 10.1038/aps.2016.119

  • 200

    MengX. L.ZhuZ. X.LuR. H.LiS.HuW. P.QinC. B.et al (2019). Regulation of Growth Performance and Lipid Metabolism in Juvenile Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) with Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Extract. Fish. Physiol. Biochem.45 (5), 15631573. 10.1007/s10695-019-00644-3

  • 201

    MessinaJ. P.HumphreysI.FlaxmanA.BrownA.CookeG. S.PybusO. G.et al (2015). Global Distribution and Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes. Hepatology61 (1), 7787. 10.1002/hep.27259

  • 202

    MoZ. Z.LinZ. X.SuZ. R.ZhengL.LiH. L.XieJ. H.et al (2018). Angelica Sinensis Supercritical Fluid CO2 Extract Attenuates D-Galactose-Induced Liver and Kidney Impairment in Mice by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. J. Med. Food21 (9), 887898. 10.1089/jmf.2017.4061

  • 203

    MoZ. Z.LiuY. H.LiC. L.XuL. Q.WenL. L.XianY. F.et al (2017). Protective Effect of SFE-CO2 of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort Against D-Galactose-Induced Injury in the Mouse Liver and Kidney. Rejuvenation Res.20 (3), 231243. 10.1089/rej.2016.1870

  • 204

    Mo'menY. S.HusseinR. M.KandeilM. A. (2019). Involvement of PI3K/Akt Pathway in the Protective Effect of Hesperidin Against a Chemically Induced Liver Cancer in Rats. J. Biochem. Mol. Toxicol.33 (6), e22305. 10.1002/jbt.22305

  • 205

    MoghadamA. R.TutunchiS.Namvaran-Abbas-AbadA.YazdiM.BonyadiF.MohajeriD.et al (2015). Pre-administration of Turmeric Prevents Methotrexate-Induced Liver Toxicity and Oxidative Stress. BMC Complement. Altern. Med.15, 246. 10.1186/s12906-015-0773-6

  • 206

    MuM.ZuoS.WuR. M.DengK. S.LuS.ZhuJ. J.et al (2018). Ferulic Acid Attenuates Liver Fibrosis and Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation via Inhibition of TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway. Drug Des. Devel Ther.12, 41074115. 10.2147/DDDT.S186726

  • 207

    MuQ.WangH.TongL.FangQ.XiangM.HanL.et al (2020). Betulinic Acid Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Through YY1/FAS Signaling Pathway. FASEB J.34 (9), 1303313048. 10.1096/fj.202000546R

  • 208

    NagappanA.JungD. Y.KimJ. H.LeeH.JungM. H. (2018). Gomisin N Alleviates Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury Through Ameliorating Lipid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress. Int. J. Mol. Sci.19 (9), 2601. 10.3390/ijms19092601

  • 209

    NagappanA.KimJ. H.JungD. Y.JungM. H. (2019). Cryptotanshinone from the Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge Attenuates Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury by Activation of AMPK/SIRT1 and Nrf2 Signaling Pathways. Int. J. Mol. Sci.21 (1), 265. 10.3390/ijms21010265

  • 210

    NakamuraT.NaguroI.IchijoH. (2019). Iron Homeostasis and Iron-Regulated ROS in Cell Death, Senescence and Human Diseases. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Gen. Subj1863 (9), 13981409. 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.06.010

  • 211

    NavarroV. J.BelleS. H.D'AmatoM.AdfhalN.BruntE. M.FriedM. W.et al (2019). Silymarin in Non-cirrhotics with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial. PLoS One14 (9), e0221683. 10.1371/journal.pone.0221683

  • 212

    NeyrinckA. M.EtxeberriaU.TaminiauB.DaubeG.Van HulM.EverardA.et al (2017). Rhubarb Extract Prevents Hepatic Inflammation Induced by Acute Alcohol Intake, an Effect Related to the Modulation of the Gut Microbiota. Mol. Nutr. Food Res.61 (1), 112. 10.1002/mnfr.201500899

  • 213

    NguyenP.LerayV.DiezM.SerisierS.Le Bloc'hJ.SiliartB.et al (2008). Liver Lipid Metabolism. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. (Berl)92 (3), 272283. 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2007.00752.x

  • 214

    NingC.GaoX.WangC.HuoX.LiuZ.SunH.et al (2018). Hepatoprotective Effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 from Panax Ginseng on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury by Activating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Mice. Environ. Toxicol.33 (10), 10501060. 10.1002/tox.22616

  • 215

    Nouri-VaskehM.AfshanH.Malek MahdaviA.AlizadehL.FanX.ZareiM. (2020a). Curcumin Ameliorates Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. Complement. Ther. Med.49, 102351. 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102351

  • 216

    Nouri-VaskehM.Malek MahdaviA.AfshanH.AlizadehL.ZareiM. (2020b). Effect of Curcumin Supplementation on Disease Severity in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phytother Res.34 (6), 14461454. 10.1002/ptr.6620

  • 217

    OkuboS.OhtaT.ShoyamaY.UtoT. (2020). Arctigenin Suppresses Cell Proliferation via Autophagy Inhibition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. J. Nat. Med.74 (3), 525532. 10.1007/s11418-020-01396-8

  • 218

    OnyekwereC. A.OgberaA. O.SamailaA. A.BalogunB. O.AbdulkareemF. B. (2015). Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Synopsis of Current Developments. Niger. J. Clin. Pract.18 (6), 703712. 10.4103/1119-3077.163288

  • 219

    OuQ.WengY.WangS.ZhaoY.ZhangF.ZhouJ.et al (2018). Silybin Alleviates Hepatic Steatosis and Fibrosis in NASH Mice by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Involvement with the Nf-Κb Pathway. Dig. Dis. Sci.63 (12), 33983408. 10.1007/s10620-018-5268-0

  • 220

    PaddaM. S.SanchezM.AkhtarA. J.BoyerJ. L. (2011). Drug-induced Cholestasis. Hepatology53 (4), 13771387. 10.1002/hep.24229

  • 221

    PanC. W.ZhouG. Y.ChenW. L.ZhugeL.JinL. X.ZhengY.et al (2015a). Protective Effect of Forsythiaside A on Lipopolysaccharide/d-Galactosamine-Induced Liver Injury. Int. Immunopharmacol26 (1), 8085. 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.03.009

  • 222

    PanT. L.WangP. W.HuangC. H.LeuY. L.WuT. H.WuY. R.et al (2015b). Herbal Formula, Scutellariae Radix and Rhei Rhizoma Attenuate Dimethylnitrosamine-Induced Liver Fibrosis in a Rat Model. Sci. Rep.5, 11734. 10.1038/srep11734

  • 223

    ParkC. H.ShinM. R.AnB. K.JohH. W.LeeJ. C.RohS. S.et al (2017). Heat-Processed Scutellariae Radix Protects Hepatic Inflammation through the Amelioration of Oxidative Stress in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mice. Am. J. Chin. Med.45 (6), 12331252. 10.1142/S0192415X17500689

  • 224

    ParkY. J.LeeK. H.JeonM. S.LeeY. H.KoY. J.PangC.et al (2020). Hepatoprotective Potency of Chrysophanol 8-O-Glucoside from Rheum Palmatum L. Against Hepatic Fibrosis via Regulation of the STAT3 Signaling Pathway. Int. J. Mol. Sci.21 (23), 9044. 10.3390/ijms21239044

  • 225

    ParlatiL.VoicanC. S.PerlemuterK.PerlemuterG. (2017). Aloe Vera-Induced Acute Liver Injury: A Case Report and Literature Review. Clin. Res. Hepatol. Gastroenterol.41 (4), e39e42. 10.1016/j.clinre.2016.10.002

  • 226

    PengY.YangT.HuangK.ShenL.TaoY.LiuC. (2018). Salvia Miltiorrhiza Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis by Activating Hepatic Natural Killer Cells In Vivo and In Vitro. Front. Pharmacol.9, 762. 10.3389/fphar.2018.00762

  • 227

    PennyS. M. (2013). Alcoholic Liver Disease. Radiol. Technol.84 (6), 577585.

  • 228

    Pérez-VargasJ. E.ZarcoN.ShibayamaM.SegoviaJ.TsutsumiV.MurielP. (2014). Hesperidin Prevents Liver Fibrosis in Rats by Decreasing the Expression of Nuclear Factor-Κb, Transforming Growth Factor-β and Connective Tissue Growth Factor. Pharmacology94 (1-2), 8089. 10.1159/000366206

  • 229

    PorrasD.NistalE.Martínez-FlórezS.Pisonero-VaqueroS.OlcozJ. L.JoverR.et al (2017). Protective Effect of Quercetin on High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice Is Mediated by Modulating Intestinal Microbiota Imbalance and Related Gut-Liver Axis Activation. Free Radic. Biol. Med.102, 188202. 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.11.037

  • 230

    PoynardT.BedossaP.OpolonP. (1997). Natural History of Liver Fibrosis Progression in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. The OBSVIRC, METAVIR, CLINIVIR, and DOSVIRC Groups. Lancet349 (9055), 825832. 10.1016/s0140-6736(96)07642-8

  • 231

    QuX.GaoH.ZhaiJ.SunJ.TaoL.ZhangY.et al (2020). Astragaloside IV Enhances Cisplatin Chemosensitivity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Suppressing MRP2. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci.148, 105325. 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105325

  • 232

    QuZ. X.LiF.MaC. D.LiuJ.LiS. D.WangW. L. (2015). Effects of gentiana Scabra Bage on Expression of Hepatic Type I, III Collagen Proteins in Paragonimus Skrjabini Rats with Liver Fibrosis. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Med.8 (1), 6063. 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60188-7

  • 233

    RahmaniS.AsgaryS.AskariG.KeshvariM.HatamipourM.FeiziA.et al (2016). Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Curcumin: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Phytother Res.30 (9), 15401548. 10.1002/ptr.5659

  • 234

    RakshitS.ShuklaP.VermaA.Kumar NiralaS.BhadauriaM. (2021). Protective Role of Rutin Against Combined Exposure to Lipopolysaccharide and D-Galactosamine-Induced Dysfunctions in Liver, Kidney, and Brain: Hematological, Biochemical, and Histological Evidences. J. Food Biochem.45 (2), e13605. 10.1111/jfbc.13605

  • 235

    RehermannB.FerrariC.PasquinelliC.ChisariF. V. (1996). The Hepatitis B Virus Persists for Decades after Patients' Recovery from Acute Viral Hepatitis Despite Active Maintenance of a Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Response. Nat. Med.2 (10), 11041108. 10.1038/nm1096-1104

  • 236

    RehmanS.NazarR.ButtA. M.IjazB.TasawarN.SheikhA. K.et al (2021). Phytochemical Screening and Protective Effects of Prunus Persica Seeds Extract on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats. Curr. Pharm. Biotechnol.10.2174/1389201022666210203142138

  • 237

    RenM.McGowanE.LiY.ZhuX.LuX.ZhuZ.et al (2019). Saikosaponin-d Suppresses COX2 Through p-STAT3/C/EBPβ Signaling Pathway in Liver Cancer: A Novel Mechanism of Action. Front. Pharmacol.10, 623. 10.3389/fphar.2019.00623

  • 238

    RobinsonM. W.HarmonC.O'FarrellyC. (2016). Liver Immunology and its Role in Inflammation and Homeostasis. Cell Mol Immunol13 (3), 267276. 10.1038/cmi.2016.3

  • 239

    RoghaniM.KalantariH.KhodayarM. J.KhorsandiL.KalantarM.GoudarziM.et al (2020). Alleviation of Liver Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Underlies the Protective Effect of Ferulic Acid in Methotrexate-Induced Hepatotoxicity. Drug Des. Devel Ther.14, 19331941. 10.2147/DDDT.S237107

  • 240

    Saberi-KarimianM.KeshvariM.Ghayour-MobarhanM.SalehizadehL.RahmaniS.BehnamB.et al (2020). Effects of Curcuminoids on Inflammatory Status in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Complement. Ther. Med.49, 102322. 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102322

  • 241

    SalamehH.RaffE.ErwinA.SethD.NischalkeH. D.FalletiE.et al (2015). PNPLA3 Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Predisposition to and Severity of Alcoholic Liver Disease. Am. J. Gastroenterol.110 (6), 846856. 10.1038/ajg.2015.137

  • 242

    SeitzS.UrbanS.AntoniC.BöttcherB. (2007). Cryo-electron Microscopy of Hepatitis B Virions Reveals Variability in Envelope Capsid Interactions. EMBO J.26 (18), 41604167. 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601841

  • 243

    ShanY.JiangB.YuJ.WangJ.WangX.LiH.et al (2019). Protective Effect of Schisandra Chinensis Polysaccharides Against the Immunological Liver Injury in Mice Based on Nrf2/ARE and TLR4/NF-Κb Signaling Pathway. J. Med. Food22 (9), 885895. 10.1089/jmf.2018.4377

  • 244

    ShangY.LiX. F.JinM. J.LiY.WuY. L.JinQ.et al (2018). Leucodin Attenuates Inflammatory Response in Macrophages and Lipid Accumulation in Steatotic Hepatocytes via P2x7 Receptor Pathway: A Potential Role in Alcoholic Liver Disease. Biomed. Pharmacother.107, 374381. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.08.009

  • 245

    ShenB.FengH.ChengJ.LiZ.JinM.ZhaoL.et al (2020). Geniposide Alleviates Non-alcohol Fatty Liver Disease via Regulating Nrf2/AMPK/mTOR Signalling Pathways. J. Cel Mol Med24 (9), 50975108. 10.1111/jcmm.15139

  • 246

    ShenH.WangH.WangL.WangL.ZhuM.MingY.et al (2017). Ethanol Extract of Root of Prunus Persica Inhibited the Growth of Liver Cancer Cell HepG2 by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Migration Suppression. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2017, 8231936. 10.1155/2017/8231936

  • 247

    ShenT. D.PyrsopoulosN.RustgiV. K. (2018). Microbiota and the Liver. Liver Transpl.24 (4), 539550. 10.1002/lt.25008

  • 248

    SheuM. J.ChiuC. C.YangD. J.HsuT. C.TzangB. S. (2017). The Root Extract of Gentiana Macrophylla Pall. Alleviates B19-NS1-Exacerbated Liver Injuries in NZB/W F1 Mice. J. Med. Food20 (1), 5664. 10.1089/jmf.2016.3817

  • 249

    ShiH.ShiA.DongL.LuX.WangY.ZhaoJ.et al (2016). Chlorogenic Acid Protects Against Liver Fibrosis In Vivo and In Vitro Through Inhibition of Oxidative Stress. Clin. Nutr.35 (6), 13661373. 10.1016/j.clnu.2016.03.002

  • 250

    ShiJ.HanG.WangJ.HanX.ZhaoM.DuanX.et al (2020). Matrine Promotes Hepatic Oval Cells Differentiation into Hepatocytes and Alleviates Liver Injury by Suppression of Notch Signalling Pathway. Life Sci.261, 118354. 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118354

  • 251

    ShiY.ZhengM. (2020). Hepatitis B Virus Persistence and Reactivation. BMJ370, m2200. 10.1136/bmj.m2200

  • 252

    SingalA. K.BatallerR.AhnJ.KamathP. S.ShahV. H. (2018). ACG Clinical Guideline: Alcoholic Liver Disease. Am. J. Gastroenterol.113 (2), 175194. 10.1038/ajg.2017.469

  • 253

    SpearmanC. W.DusheikoG. M.HellardM.SonderupM. (2019). Hepatitis C. Lancet394 (10207), 14511466. 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32320-7

  • 254

    StöckigtJ.AntonchickA. P.WuF.WaldmannH. (2011). The Pictet-Spengler Reaction in Nature and in Organic Chemistry. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.50 (37), 85388564. 10.1002/anie.201008071

  • 255

    SuC. M.WangH. C.HsuF. T.LuC. H.LaiC. K.ChungJ. G.et al (2020). Astragaloside IV Induces Apoptosis, G1-phase Arrest and Inhibits Anti-apoptotic Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. In Vivo34 (2), 631638. 10.21873/invivo.11817

  • 256

    SunJ.LiuY.YuJ.WuJ.GaoW.RanL.et al (2019). APS Could Potentially Activate Hepatic Insulin Signaling in HFD-Induced IR Mice. J. Mol. Endocrinol.63 (1), 7791. 10.1530/JME-19-0035

  • 257

    TanX.SunZ.LiuQ.YeH.ZouC.YeC.et al (2018). Effects of Dietary Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract on Growth Performance, Plasma Biochemical Parameters, Fish Composition, Immune Responses, Liver Histology, and Immune and Apoptosis-Related Genes Expression of Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus Lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus♀) Fed High Lipid Diets. Fish. Shellfish Immunol.72, 399409. 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.10.022

  • 258

    TanX.SunZ.YeC.LinH. (2019). The Effects of Dietary Lycium Barbarum Extract on Growth Performance, Liver Health and Immune Related Genes Expression in Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus Lanceolatus♂ × E. Fuscoguttatus♀) Fed High Lipid Diets. Fish. Shellfish Immunol.87, 847852. 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.02.016

  • 259

    TangF.FanK.WangK.BianC. (2019). Amygdalin Attenuates Acute Liver Injury Induced by D-Galactosamine and Lipopolysaccharide by Regulating the NLRP3, NF-Κb and Nrf2/NQO1 Signalling Pathways. Biomed. Pharmacother.111, 527536. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.096

  • 260

    ThollD. (2015). Biosynthesis and Biological Functions of Terpenoids in Plants. Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biotechnol.148, 63106. 10.1007/10_2014_295

  • 261

    TrépoC.ChanH. L.LokA. (2014). Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Lancet384 (9959), 20532063. 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60220-8

  • 262

    TripathiA.DebeliusJ.BrennerD. A.KarinM.LoombaR.SchnablB.et al (2018). The Gut-Liver Axis and the Intersection with the Microbiome. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol.15 (7), 397411. 10.1038/s41575-018-0011-z

  • 263

    TsochatzisE. A.BoschJ.BurroughsA. K. (2014). Liver Cirrhosis. Lancet383 (9930), 17491761. 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60121-5

  • 264

    TsuchidaT.FriedmanS. L. (2017). Mechanisms of Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol.14 (7), 397411. 10.1038/nrgastro.2017.38

  • 265

    TuY. (2016). Artemisinin-A Gift from Traditional Chinese Medicine to the World (Nobel Lecture). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.55 (35), 1021010226. 10.1002/anie.201601967

  • 266

    UchioR.HigashiY.KohamaY.KawasakiK.HiraoT.MuroyamaK.et al (2017). A Hot Water Extract of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) Suppresses Acute Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inhibiting Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokine Production. J. Nutr. Sci.6, e3. 10.1017/jns.2016.43

  • 267

    Van HungP. (2016). Phenolic Compounds of Cereals and Their Antioxidant Capacity. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr.56 (1), 2535. 10.1080/10408398.2012.708909

  • 268

    VeskovicM.MladenovicD.MilenkovicM.TosicJ.BorozanS.GopcevicK.et al (2019). Betaine Modulates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Akt/mTOR Signaling in Methionine-Choline Deficiency-Induced Fatty Liver Disease. Eur. J. Pharmacol.848, 3948. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.01.043

  • 269

    Wah KheongC.Nik MustaphaN. R.MahadevaS. (2017). A Randomized Trial of Silymarin for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol.15 (12), 19401949.e8. 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.04.016

  • 270

    WanS.LuoF.HuangC.LiuC.LuoQ.ZhuX. (2020). Ursolic Acid Reverses Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting Interactive NOX4/ROS and RhoA/ROCK1 Signalling Pathways. Aging (Albany NY)12 (11), 1061410632. 10.18632/aging.103282

  • 271

    WanS. Z.LiuC.HuangC. K.LuoF. Y.ZhuX. (2019). Ursolic Acid Improves Intestinal Damage and Bacterial Dysbiosis in Liver Fibrosis Mice. Front. Pharmacol.10, 1321. 10.3389/fphar.2019.01321

  • 272

    WangF. S.FanJ. G.ZhangZ.GaoB.WangH. Y. (2014). The Global Burden of Liver Disease: The Major Impact of China. Hepatology60 (6), 20992108. 10.1002/hep.27406

  • 273

    WangG.FuY.LiJ.LiY.ZhaoQ.HuA.et al (2021a). Aqueous Extract of Polygonatum Sibiricum Ameliorates Ethanol-Induced Mice Liver Injury via Regulation of the Nrf2/ARE Pathway. J. Food Biochem.45 (1), e13537. 10.1111/jfbc.13537

  • 274

    WangJ.LiaoA. M.ThakurK.ZhangJ. G.HuangJ. H.WeiZ. J. (2019a). Licochalcone B Extracted from Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Fisch Induces Apoptotic Effects in Human Hepatoma Cell HepG2. J. Agric. Food Chem.67 (12), 33413353. 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b00324

  • 275

    WangJ.WongY. K.LiaoF. (2018). What Has Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivered for Modern Medicine?Expert Rev. Mol. Med.20, e4. 10.1017/erm.2018.3

  • 276

    WangJ.ZhaoY.XiaoX.LiH.ZhaoH.ZhangP.et al (2009). Assessment of the Renal protection and Hepatotoxicity of Rhubarb Extract in Rats. J. Ethnopharmacol124 (1), 1825. 10.1016/j.jep.2009.04.018

  • 277

    WangK.SongZ.WangH.LiQ.CuiZ.ZhangY. (2016). Angelica Sinensis Polysaccharide Attenuates Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury in Mice. Int. Immunopharmacol31, 140148. 10.1016/j.intimp.2015.12.021

  • 278

    WangK.WangJ.SongM.WangH.XiaN.ZhangY. (2020a). Angelica Sinensis Polysaccharide Attenuates CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis via the IL-22/STAT3 Pathway. Int. J. Biol. Macromol162, 273283. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.06.166

  • 279

    WangQ.LiangY.PengC.JiangP. (2020b). Network Pharmacology-Based Study on the Mechanism of Scutellariae Radix for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2020, 8897918. 10.1155/2020/8897918

  • 280

    WangR.ZhangD.TangD.SunK.PengJ.ZhuW.et al (2021b). Amygdalin Inhibits TGFβ1-Induced Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs) In Vitro and CCl4-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats In Vivo. Int. Immunopharmacol90, 107151. 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107151

  • 281

    WangS.XuJ.WangC.LiJ.WangQ.KuangH.et al (2020c). Paeoniae Radix alba Polysaccharides Obtained via Optimized Extraction Treat Experimental Autoimmune Hepatitis Effectively. Int. J. Biol. Macromol164, 15541564. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.214

  • 282

    WangY.WangR.WangY.PengR.WuY.YuanY. (2015). Ginkgo Biloba Extract Mitigates Liver Fibrosis and Apoptosis by Regulating P38 MAPK, NF-Κb/iκbα, and Bcl-2/Bax Signaling. Drug Des. Devel Ther.9, 63036317. 10.2147/DDDT.S93732

  • 283

    WangY. X.DuY.LiuX. F.YangF. X.WuX.TanL.et al (2019b). A Hepatoprotection Study of Radix Bupleuri on Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury Based on CYP450 Inhibition. Chin. J. Nat. Med.17 (7), 517524. 10.1016/S1875-5364(19)30073-1

  • 284

    WeiJ.ZhangL.LiuJ.PeiD.WangN.WangH.et al (2020). Protective Effect of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide on Ethanol-Induced Injury in Human Hepatocyte and its Mechanism. J. Food Biochem., e13412. 10.1111/jfbc.13412

  • 285

    WeiL.DaiY.ZhouY.HeZ.YaoJ.ZhaoL.et al (2017). Oroxylin A Activates PKM1/HNF4 Alpha to Induce Hepatoma Differentiation and Block Cancer Progression. Cell Death Dis8 (7), e2944. 10.1038/cddis.2017.335

  • 286

    WeiR.CaoJ.YaoS. (2018). Matrine Promotes Liver Cancer Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting Mitophagy and PINK1/Parkin Pathways. Cell Stress Chaperones23 (6), 12951309. 10.1007/s12192-018-0937-7

  • 287

    WuC.ChenW.DingH.LiD.WenG.ZhangC.et al (2019b). Salvianolic Acid B Exerts Anti-liver Fibrosis Effects via Inhibition of MAPK-Mediated Phospho-Smad2/3 at Linker Regions In Vivo and In Vitro. Life Sci.239, 116881. 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.116881

  • 288

    WuC.JingM.YangL.JinL.DingY.LuJ.et al (2018a). Alisol A 24-acetate Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Stimulating Autophagy through the AMPK/mTOR Pathway. Chem. Biol. Interact291, 111119. 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.06.005

  • 289

    WuC. T.DengJ. S.HuangW. C.ShiehP. C.ChungM. I.HuangG. J. (2019a). Salvianolic Acid C Against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury by Attenuating Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis through Inhibition of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling. Oxid Med. Cel Longev2019, 9056845. 10.1155/2019/9056845

  • 290

    WuK.FanJ.HuangX.WuX.GuoC. (2018b). Hepatoprotective Effects Exerted by Poria Cocos Polysaccharides Against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice. Int. J. Biol. Macromol114, 137142. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.03.107

  • 291

    WuK.GuoC.YangB.WuX.WangW. (2019c). Antihepatotoxic Benefits of Poria Cocos Polysaccharides on Acetaminophen-Lesioned Livers In Vivo and In Vitro. J. Cel Biochem120 (5), 74827488. 10.1002/jcb.28022

  • 292

    WuQ. (2001). Traditional Chinese Medicine for Liver Disease. Beijing: China medical science and technology press.

  • 293

    WuX.ZhangF.XiongX.LuC.LianN.LuY.et al (2015). Tetramethylpyrazine Reduces Inflammation in Liver Fibrosis and Inhibits Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Hepatic Stellate Cells by Modulating NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway. IUBMB Life67 (4), 312321. 10.1002/iub.1348

  • 294

    WuX.ZhiF.LunW.DengQ.ZhangW. (2018c). Baicalin Inhibits PDGF-BB-Induced Hepatic Stellate Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, Invasion, Migration and Activation via the miR-3595/ACSL4 axis. Int. J. Mol. Med.41 (4), 19922002. 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3427

  • 295

    WuZ.MengX.HuJ.DingY.PengY. (2017). Research Progress on the Relationship between TLR4-MyD88-NF-kB Signaling Pathway and Hepatitis Liver Fibrosis Liver Cancer axis. Int. J. Pharm. Res.44 (05), 396401.

  • 296

    XianZ.TianJ.WangL.ZhangY.HanJ.DengN.et al (2020). Effects of Rhein on Bile Acid Homeostasis in Rats. Biomed. Res. Int.2020, 8827955. 10.1155/2020/8827955

  • 297

    XiaoY.KimM.LazarM. A. (2020). Nuclear Receptors and Transcriptional Regulation in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Mol. Metab.50, 101119. 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101119

  • 298

    XieH.SuD.ZhangJ.JiD.MaoJ.HaoM.et al (2020). Raw and Vinegar Processed Curcuma Wenyujin Regulates Hepatic Fibrosis via Bloking TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathways and Up-Regulation of MMP-2/TIMP-1 Ratio. J. Ethnopharmacol246, 111768. 10.1016/j.jep.2019.01.045

  • 299

    XieT.LiK.GongX.JiangR.HuangW.ChenX.et al (2018). Paeoniflorin Protects Against Liver Ischemia/reperfusion Injury in Mice via Inhibiting HMGB1-TLR4 Signaling Pathway. Phytother Res.32 (11), 22472255. 10.1002/ptr.6161

  • 300

    XuF.LiuC.ZhouD.ZhangL. (2016). TGF-β/SMAD Pathway and its Regulation in Hepatic Fibrosis. J. Histochem. Cytochem.64 (3), 157167. 10.1369/0022155415627681

  • 301

    XuJ.LiC.LiZ.YangC.LeiL.RenW.et al (2018). Protective Effects of Oxymatrine Against lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine-induced A-cute L-iver F-ailure through O-xidative D-amage, via A-ctivation of Nrf2/HO-1 and M-odulation of I-nflammatory TLR4-signaling P-athways. Mol. Med. Rep.17 (1), 19071912. 10.3892/mmr.2017.8060

  • 302

    YanH.GaoY. Q.ZhangY.WangH.LiuG. S.LeiJ. Y. (2018). Chlorogenic Acid Alleviates Autophagy and Insulin Resistance by Suppressing JNK Pathway in a Rat Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. J. Biosci.43 (2), 287294. 10.1007/s12038-018-9746-5

  • 303

    YanH.JungK. H.KimJ.RummanM.OhM. S.HongS. S. (2018). Artemisia Capillaris Extract AC68 Induces Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Blocking the PI3K/AKT Pathway. Biomed. Pharmacother.98, 134141. 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.12.043

  • 304

    YanZ.FanR.YinS.ZhaoX.LiuJ.LiL.et al (2015). Protective Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Polysaccharide on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Mechanisms. Int. J. Biol. Macromol80, 573580. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.05.054

  • 305

    YangF.LuoL.ZhuZ. D.ZhouX.WangY.XueJ.et al (2017). Chlorogenic Acid Inhibits Liver Fibrosis by Blocking the miR-21-Regulated TGF-β1/Smad7 Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo. Front. Pharmacol.8, 929. 10.3389/fphar.2017.00929

  • 306

    YangF.XuY.XiongA.HeY.YangL.WanY. J.et al (2012). Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Against α-naphthylisothiocyanate Induced Liver Injury Based on Metabolic Profile of Bile Acids. J. Ethnopharmacol144 (3), 599604. 10.1016/j.jep.2012.09.049

  • 307

    YangG.WeiW. (2017). Research Progress on Immune Mechanism of Alcoholic Liver Disease and Prevention and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine. J. southwest Med. Univ.40 (03), 319321.

  • 308

    YangH.YangT.HengC.ZhouY.JiangZ.QianX.et al (2019a). Quercetin Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver by Ameliorating Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism in Db/db Mice. Phytother Res.33 (12), 31403152. 10.1002/ptr.6486

  • 309

    YangH.ZhouZ.HeL.MaH.QuW.YinJ.et al (2018). Hepatoprotective and Inhibiting HBV Effects of Polysaccharides from Roots of Sophora Flavescens. Int. J. Biol. Macromol108, 744752. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.10.171

  • 310

    YangH. X.ShangY.JinQ.WuY. L.LiuJ.QiaoC. Y.et al (2020a). Gentiopicroside Ameliorates the Progression from Hepatic Steatosis to Fibrosis Induced by Chronic Alcohol Intake. Biomol. Ther. (Seoul)28 (4), 320327. 10.4062/biomolther.2020.008

  • 311

    YangJ. H.KimS. C.KimK. M.JangC. H.ChoS. S.KimS. J.et al (2016a). Isorhamnetin Attenuates Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting TGF-β/Smad Signaling and Relieving Oxidative Stress. Eur. J. Pharmacol.783, 92102. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.04.042

  • 312

    YangM.LiX.ZengX.OuZ.XueM.GaoD.et al (2016b). Rheum Palmatum L. Attenuates High Fat Diet-Induced Hepatosteatosis by Activating AMP-Activated Protein Kinase. Am. J. Chin. Med.44 (3), 551564. 10.1142/S0192415X16500300

  • 313

    YangR.SongC.ChenJ.ZhouL.JiangX.CaoX.et al (2020b). Limonin Ameliorates Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Activating Nrf2 Antioxidative Pathway and Inhibiting NF-Κb Inflammatory Response via Upregulating Sirt1. Phytomedicine69, 153211. 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153211

  • 314

    YangY.ZhaoJ.SongX.LiL.LiF.ShangJ.et al (2019b). Amygdalin Reduces Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Rats by Down-Regulating PI3K/AKT, JAK2/STAT3 and NF-Κb Signalling Pathways. Artif. Cell Nanomed Biotechnol47 (1), 26882697. 10.1080/21691401.2019.1634084

  • 315

    YariZ.CheraghpourM.AlavianS. M.HedayatiM.Eini-ZinabH.HekmatdoostA. (2021). The Efficacy of Flaxseed and Hesperidin on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Open-Labeled Randomized Controlled Trial. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr.75 (1), 99111. 10.1038/s41430-020-0679-3

  • 316

    YiY.ZhaoY.LiC.ZhangY.BinY.YuanY.et al (2018). Potential Chronic Liver Toxicity in Rats Orally Administered an Ethanol Extract of Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis). J. Tradit Chin. Med.38 (2), 242256.

  • 317

    YimD.KimM. J.ShinY.LeeS. J.ShinJ. G.KimD. H. (2019). Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 Activities by Sophora Flavescens Extract and its Prenylated Flavonoids in Human Liver Microsomes. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat Med.2019, 2673769. 10.1155/2019/2673769

  • 318

    YokomoriH.OdaM.YoshimuraK.HibiT. (2012). Recent Advances in Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Ultrastructure and Fine Structure Immunocytochemistry. Micron43 (2-3), 129134. 10.1016/j.micron.2011.08.002

  • 319

    YounossiZ. M. (2019). Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - A Global Public Health Perspective. J. Hepatol.70 (3), 531544. 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.10.033

  • 320

    YuQ.LiuT.LiS.FengJ.WuL.WangW.et al (20182018). The Protective Effects of Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine on ConA-Induced Liver Injury Are via TRAF6/JNK Signaling. Mediators Inflamm.2018, 4032484. 10.1155/2018/4032484

  • 321

    YuQ.ChengP.WuJ.GuoC. (2021). Pparγ/NF-Κb and TGF-β1/Smad Pathway Are Involved in the Anti-fibrotic Effects of Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine on Liver Fibrosis. J. Cel Mol Med25 (3), 16451660. 10.1111/jcmm.16267

  • 322

    YuanF.ChenJ.WuW. J.ChenS. Z.WangX. D.SuZ.et al (2010). Effects of Matrine and Oxymatrine on Catalytic Activity of Cytochrome P450s in Rats. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol.107 (5), 906913. 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2010.00596.x

  • 323

    YuanR.TaoX.LiangS.PanY.HeL.SunJ.et al (2018). Protective Effect of Acidic Polysaccharide from Schisandra Chinensis on Acute Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury through Reducing CYP2E1-dependent Oxidative Stress. Biomed. Pharmacother.99, 537542. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.079

  • 324

    YuenM. F.ChenD. S.DusheikoG. M.JanssenH. L. A.LauD. T. Y.LocarniniS. A.et al (2018). Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers4, 18035. 10.1038/nrdp.2018.35

  • 325

    YunY. R.KimJ. H.KimJ. H.JungM. H. (2017). Protective Effects of Gomisin N Against Hepatic Steatosis Through AMPK Activation. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.482 (4), 10951101. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.11.164

  • 326

    ZangW.BianH.HuangX.YinG.ZhangC.HanL. I.et al (2019). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Astragalus Membranaceus and Curcuma Wenyujin Promote Vascular Normalization in Tumor-Derived Endothelial Cells of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Anticancer Res.39 (6), 27392747. 10.21873/anticanres.13400

  • 327

    ZengH.LiD.QinX.ChenP.TanH.ZengX.et al (2016). Hepatoprotective Effects of Schisandra Sphenanthera Extract Against Lithocholic Acid-Induced Cholestasis in Male Mice Are Associated with Activation of the Pregnane X Receptor Pathway and Promotion of Liver Regeneration. Drug Metab. Dispos44 (3), 337342. 10.1124/dmd.115.066969

  • 328

    ZengX.LiX.XuC.JiangF.MoY.FanX.et al (2017). Schisandra Sphenanthera Extract (Wuzhi Tablet) Protects Against Chronic-Binge and Acute Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury by Regulating the NRF2-ARE Pathway in Mice. Acta Pharm. Sin B7 (5), 583592. 10.1016/j.apsb.2017.04.002

  • 329

    ZhangC. Y.JiangZ. M.MaX. F.LiY.LiuX. Z.LiL. L.et al (2019). Saikosaponin-d Inhibits the Hepatoma Cells and Enhances Chemosensitivity through SENP5-dependent Inhibition of Gli1 SUMOylation Under Hypoxia. Front. Pharmacol.10, 1039. 10.3389/fphar.2019.01039

  • 330

    ZhangH.YangL.WangY.HuangW.LiY.ChenS.et al (2020a). Oxymatrine Alleviated Hepatic Lipid Metabolism via Regulating miR-182 in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Life Sci.257, 118090. 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118090

  • 331

    ZhangY.WangH.ZhangL.YuanY.YuD. (2020b). Codonopsis Lanceolata Polysaccharide CLPS Alleviates High Fat/high Sucrose Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance via Anti-oxidative Stress. Int. J. Biol. Macromol145, 944949. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.185

  • 332

    ZhangY.YangX.WangS.SongS.YangX. (2021). Gentiopicroside Prevents Alcoholic Liver Damage by Improving Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Rat Model. Phytother Res.35 (4), 22302251. 10.1002/ptr.6981

  • 333

    ZhangY.ZhaoH.LiH.CaoW.WangF.ZhangT.et al (2017). Protective Effects of Amarogentin Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice. Molecules22 (5). 10.3390/molecules22050754

  • 334

    ZhangZ.ChenS.MeiH.XuanJ.GuoX.CouchL.et al (2015). Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract Induces DNA Damage by Inhibiting Topoisomerase II Activity in Human Hepatic Cells. Sci. Rep.5, 14633. 10.1038/srep14633

  • 335

    ZhaoH.ZhangY.ShuL.SongG.MaH. (2019a). Resveratrol Reduces Liver Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Improves Insulin Sensitivity In Vivo and In Vitro. Drug Des. Devel Ther.13, 14731485. 10.2147/DDDT.S203833

  • 336

    ZhaoH. W.ZhangZ. F.ChaiX.LiG. Q.CuiH. R.WangH. B.et al (2016). Oxymatrine Attenuates CCl4-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis via Modulation of TLR4-dependent Inflammatory and TGF-Β1 Signaling Pathways. Int. Immunopharmacol36, 249255. 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.04.040

  • 337

    ZhaoP.PiaoX.PanL.ZengZ.LiQ.XuX.et al (2017). Forsythia Suspensa Extract Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Liver Injury in Rats via Promoting Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms. Anim. Sci. J.88 (6), 873881. 10.1111/asj.12717

  • 338

    ZhaoQ.WeiM.ZhangS.HuangZ.LuB.JiL. (2020). The Water Extract of Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma Alleviates Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Mechanism. Phytomedicine77, 153270. 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153270

  • 339

    ZhaoX. J.ChenL.ZhaoY.PanY.YangY. Z.SunY.et al (2019b). Polygonum Cuspidatum Extract Attenuates Fructose-Induced Liver Lipid Accumulation through Inhibiting Keap1 and Activating Nrf2 Antioxidant Pathway. Phytomedicine63, 152986. 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152986

  • 340

    ZhaoX. J.YuH. W.YangY. Z.WuW. Y.ChenT. Y.JiaK. K.et al (2018a). Polydatin Prevents Fructose-Induced Liver Inflammation and Lipid Deposition through Increasing miR-200a to Regulate Keap1/Nrf2 Pathway. Redox Biol.18, 124137. 10.1016/j.redox.2018.07.002

  • 341

    ZhaoY.MaX.WangJ.ZhuY.LiR.WangJ.et al (2014). Paeoniflorin Alleviates Liver Fibrosis by Inhibiting HIF-1α Through mTOR-dependent Pathway. Fitoterapia99, 318327. 10.1016/j.fitote.2014.10.009

  • 342

    ZhaoZ.WeiQ.HuaW.LiuY.LiuX.ZhuY. (2018b). Hepatoprotective Effects of Berberine on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice. Biomed. Pharmacother.103, 13191326. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.175

  • 343

    ZhengN.LiuF.LuH.ZhanY.ZhangM.GuoW.et al (2017). Schisantherin A Protects Against Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Inhibition of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway. Int. Immunopharmacol47, 2837. 10.1016/j.intimp.2017.03.019

  • 344

    ZhongW.QianK.XiongJ.MaK.WangA.ZouY. (2016). Curcumin Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide Induced Sepsis and Liver Failure by Suppression of Oxidative Stress-Related Inflammation via PI3K/AKT and NF-Κb Related Signaling. Biomed. Pharmacother.83, 302313. 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.06.036

  • 345

    ZhouL.YangF.LiG.HuangJ.LiuY.ZhangQ.et al (2018). Coptisine Induces Apoptosis in Human Hepatoma Cells Through Activating 67-kDa Laminin Receptor/cGMP Signaling. Front. Pharmacol.9, 517. 10.3389/fphar.2018.00517

  • 346

    ZhouW. C.ZhangQ. B.QiaoL. (2014). Pathogenesis of Liver Cirrhosis. World J. Gastroenterol.20 (23), 73127324. 10.3748/wjg.v20.i23.7312

  • 347

    ZhouX.CheungC. M.YangJ. M.OrP. M.LeeW. Y.YeungJ. H. (2015). Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza) Water Extract Inhibits Paracetamol-Induced Toxicity in Primary Rat Hepatocytes via Reducing CYP2E1 Activity and Oxidative Stress. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.67 (7), 980989. 10.1111/jphp.12381

  • 348

    ZhouX.WangL. L.TangW. J.TangB. (2021). Astragaloside IV Inhibits Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B and Improves Insulin Resistance in Insulin-Resistant HepG2 Cells and Triglyceride Accumulation in Oleic Acid (OA)-treated HepG2 Cells. J. Ethnopharmacol268, 113556. 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113556

  • 349

    ZhuH.HeC.ZhaoH.JiangW.XuS.LiJ.et al (2020). Sennoside A Prevents Liver Fibrosis by Binding DNMT1 and Suppressing DNMT1-Mediated PTEN Hypermethylation in HSC Activation and Proliferation. FASEB J.34 (11), 1455814571. 10.1096/fj.202000494RR

  • 350

    ZhuS. Y.JiangN.YangJ.TuJ.ZhouY.XiaoX.et al (2018a). Silybum marianum Oil Attenuates Hepatic Steatosis and Oxidative Stress in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice. Biomed. Pharmacother.100, 191197. 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.144

  • 351

    ZhuX.XiongT.LiuP.GuoX.XiaoL.ZhouF.et al (2018b). Quercetin Ameliorates HFD-Induced NAFLD by Promoting Hepatic VLDL Assembly and Lipophagy via the IRE1a/XBP1s Pathway. Food Chem. Toxicol.114, 5260. 10.1016/j.fct.2018.02.019

  • 352

    ZouC.SuN.WuJ.XuM.SunZ.LiuQ.et al (2019). Dietary Radix Bupleuri Extracts Improves Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and Immune Response of Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus Lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus♀). Fish. Shellfish Immunol.88, 496507. 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.02.052

  • 353

    ZouC.TanX.YeH.SunZ.ChenS.LiuQ.et al (2018). The Hepatoprotective Effects of Radix Bupleuri Extracts Against D-Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide Induced Liver Injury in Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus Lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus♀). Fish. Shellfish Immunol.83, 817. 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.08.047

Summary

Keywords

liver diseases, natural agents, toxicity, clinical trials, potential application, Chinese medicine

Citation

Fu K, Wang C, Ma C, Zhou H and Li Y (2021) The Potential Application of Chinese Medicine in Liver Diseases: A New Opportunity. Front. Pharmacol. 12:771459. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.771459

Received

06 September 2021

Accepted

19 October 2021

Published

04 November 2021

Volume

12 - 2021

Edited by

Annabella Vitalone, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Reviewed by

Luis Enrique Gomez-Quiroz, Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico

Maitane Asensio, University of Salamanca, Spain

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Yunxia Li,

†These authors have contributed equally to this work

This article was submitted to Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Pharmacology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Figures

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics