Gut-liver axis and intestinal microbiota: Key targets of herbal medicines in treatment of MASLD/MASH.
- 1School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
- 2School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
- 3School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518172, China.
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) represent globally prevalent chronic hepatic conditions, in which gut dysbiosis acts as a key pathogenic driver through dysregulation of the gut-liver axis. Herbal medicines (HMs) are increasingly recognized as viable therapeutic candidates for MASLD/MASH, primarily through their ameliorative properties on gut-liver axis and pathophysiological pathways of intestinal microbiota. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of MASLD/MASH and the application of HMs in their treatment from the perspective of the gut-liver axis and intestinal microbiota. The progression of MASLD/MASH involves several pathological processes marked by modifications in the gut-liver axis, including compromised gut barrier function and increased intestinal permeability causing endotoxemia and inflammation, along with alterations in microbiota composition and gut microbiota-derived metabolites. This review further delineates the shared mechanisms within each class of compounds in HMs for ameliorating MASLD/MASH, highlights recent advances in the combined use of HMs and probiotics, and discusses the key issues and challenges associated with the clinical translation of HM-based preparations. These insights potentially catalyze the advancement of novel therapeutics targeting MASLD/MASH, while providing a translational framework for clinical application of HMs.
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BibTeX
@article{mao2026gutliver,
title = {{Gut-liver axis and intestinal microbiota: Key targets of herbal medicines in treatment of MASLD/MASH.}},
author = {Yiqin Mao and Caihong Wei and Yi Zhang and Yiqin Zheng and Ruifeng Ji and Ge Lin and Xin He and Yisheng He and Ji Yang and Jiang Ma},
journal = {Chinese herbal medicines},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1016/j.chmed.2026.08.017},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948719},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gut-liver axis and intestinal microbiota: Key targets of herbal medicines in treatment of MASLD/MASH.
AU - Yiqin Mao
AU - Caihong Wei
AU - Yi Zhang
AU - Yiqin Zheng
AU - Ruifeng Ji
AU - Ge Lin
AU - Xin He
AU - Yisheng He
AU - Ji Yang
AU - Jiang Ma
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Chinese herbal medicines
DO - 10.1016/j.chmed.2026.08.017
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948719
AB - Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) represent globally prevalent chronic hepatic conditions, in which gut dysbiosis acts as a key pathogenic driver through dysregulation of the gut-liver axis. Herbal medicines (HMs) are increasingly recognized as viable therapeutic candidates for MASLD/MASH, primarily through their ameliorative properties on gut-liver axis and pathophysiological pathways of intestinal microbiota. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of MASLD/MASH and the application of HMs in their treatment from the perspective of the gut-liver axis and intestinal microbiota. The progression of MASLD/MASH involves several pathological processes marked by modifications in the gut-liver axis, including compromised gut barrier function and increased intestinal permeability causing endotoxemia and inflammation, along with alterations in microbiota composition and gut microbiota-derived metabolites. This review further delineates the shared mechanisms within each class of compounds in HMs for ameliorating MASLD/MASH, highlights recent advances in the combined use of HMs and probiotics, and discusses the key issues and challenges associated with the clinical translation of HM-based preparations. These insights potentially catalyze the advancement of novel therapeutics targeting MASLD/MASH, while providing a translational framework for clinical application of HMs.
SN - 1674-6384
SN - 2589-3610
ER -