PERSPECTIVE article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
A Transdisciplinary Framework for Managing Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Sania Kouser 1
Sanket V Sharma 1
Arun Bhanu 1
Subrahmanya K Kumar 1
Vishnuprasad N Chethala 2,3
1. The University of Trans-disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bengaluru, India
2. The University of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bengaluru, India
3. National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India
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Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rapidly emerging as a public health issue across the globe. Its complex etiopathology and association with diverse comorbidities poses significant challenges to conventional pharmacological drugs derived from the 'lock-and-key' paradigm of pharmacology. To overcome the challenges of complexity and non-linear dynamics underlying the disease biology of MASLD, this article proposes a transdisciplinary framework combining holistic disease management principles of traditional medicines with molecular precision of modern biomedicine. Ayurveda - an exceptionally designed and widely practiced Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) - is explored as a representative model for this framework. This article outlines a unified, biologically plausible transdisciplinary approach incorporating dual-diagnostic workflows, integrative decision interface, and stage-adaptive management algorithm for prevention, early intervention, and advanced disease care. The framework emphasizes integrative and personalized strategies integrating nutrition, lifestyle modification and drug interventions, harnessing the molecular precision of biomedicine alongside the systemic effects of phytochemical diversity. The transdisciplinary model seeks to shift the focus from 'disease treatment' to 'health restoration' and long-term wellness. The review highlights the scopes and challenges of this framework to offer more comprehensive, sustainable, and patient-centred solutions for MASLD.
Summary
Keywords
Ayurveda, MASLD, precision medicine, Transdisciplinary, Treatment
Received
15 December 2025
Accepted
26 January 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Kouser, Sharma, Bhanu, Kumar and Chethala. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Subrahmanya K Kumar; Vishnuprasad N Chethala
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.