The Therapeutic Effects of Active Components from Food-Medicine Plants on Liver Fibrosis

Caiyun Sun,1 Binlong Chen,1 Yaodong Hu,1 Silu Wang,1 Ting Chen,1 Min Xu,2 Qianyuan Gong3 1College of Animal Science, Xichang University, Xichang, 615013, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, People’s Republic of China; 3Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610031, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qianyuan Gong, Email [email protected]: Liver fibrosis, a chronic progression process of liver disease in which various factors damage the liver, leading to the development of liver inflammation and eventually progressing to liver cirrhosis. Food-medicine plants, which serve dual roles in nutrition and therapy, play a significant role in the management of chronic diseases, particularly within minority communities and developing regions. This review systematically examines the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds derived from food-medicine plants—such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and terpenoids—in mitigating liver fibrosis. These compounds exert their effects through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of key signaling pathways such as TGF-β, PI3K/Akt, ferroptosis, and Wnt/β-catenin. Additionally, they enhance antioxidant enzyme activity, suppress pro-fibrotic mediators, and reduce fibrosis-related biomarkers. Overall, this work underscores the multifaceted mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of food-medicine plant products. Nevertheless, further clinical validation is necessary to translate these preclinical insights into effective therapies, thereby providing a foundation for future research and drug development in the management of liver fibrosis.Keywords: liver fibrosis, liver inflammation, food-medicine plants, bioactive compounds