Advancements in traditional Chinese medicine: Harnessing natural products for liver disease through autophagy modulation

Abstract

Globally, liver disease has emerged as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. The onset and progression of liver diseases are intricately linked to the modulation of autophagy, a highly conserved cellular process. Autophagy involves the systematic degradation and recycling of intracellular components, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. As a dynamic regulatory mechanism, autophagy plays a crucial bidirectional role in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Natural products derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are abundant in nature and possess unique chemical structures and biological properties, which confer a diverse range of pharmacological activities, as demonstrated by extensive research. In recent years, pharmacological studies have revealed an additional potential function of these natural products: the regulation of autophagy. Investigating the relationship between liver diseases and autophagy can enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver disease pathogenesis, providing a theoretical foundation for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy. This review comprehensively synthesizes current knowledge on the roles of TCM-derived natural products in liver diseases and autophagy. It further explores the mechanisms by which these natural products modulate autophagy in the context of liver diseases, including key signaling pathways such as AMPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and ROS, as well as critical molecular targets like p62 and Beclin-1. By summarizing and analyzing the regulatory effects of natural products on liver diseases through autophagy, this review aims to inspire innovative approaches for the development of autophagy-based therapeutics for liver diseases.