Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Abstract

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in many regions worldwide. Although Rezdiffra was approved by the FDA in March 2024 for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in its middle to advanced stages, it has certain limitations. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop new treatments, including herbal remedies or combinations of them.

Methods: This study conducted a literature search across the PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and CNKI databases. The search strategy included terms such as (nafld[Title/Abstract], (mafld[Title/Abstract]), (masld[Title/Abstract]), (mash[Title/Abstract]), (nash[Title/Abstract]), (non alcoholic fatty liver disease[Title/Abstract]), and (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis[Title/ Abstract]). Experimental or clinical studies that examined herbs or combinations with the highest number of studies and impact factors were included.

Results: Five classical herbal combinations and twelve individual Chinese herbs were identified. These herbs demonstrated efficacy in activating blood circulation, clearing heat and toxins, improving vision, and reducing jaundice.

Conclusion: This review highlights the promising clinical potential of these herbs and herbal combinations for treating NAFLD. Their benefits include anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidative stress, regulation of lipid metabolism, improvement of insulin resistance, modulation of intestinal flora, and antifibrotic properties. Further exploration of clinical literature related to these formulations is needed to better understand their efficacy and establish a comprehensive framework for their use in NAFLD treatment.