The Beneficial Effects of Natural Extracts and Bioactive Compounds on the Gut-Liver Axis: A Promising Intervention for Alcoholic Liver Disease
Liang Zhao,
Shaoxuan Wang,
Nanhai Zhang,
Jingxuan Zhou,
Arshad Mehmood,
Rifat Nowshin Raka,
Feng Zhou,
Lei Zhao
Affiliations
Liang Zhao
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
Shaoxuan Wang
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
Nanhai Zhang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Jingxuan Zhou
Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Arshad Mehmood
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
Rifat Nowshin Raka
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
Feng Zhou
Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Lei Zhao
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can cause fatty liver (steatosis), steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Alcohol consumption can also disturb the composition of gut microbiota, increasing the composition of harmful microbes and decreasing beneficial ones. Restoring eubiosis or preventing dysbiosis after alcohol consumption is an important strategy in treating ALD. Plant natural products and polyphenolic compounds exert beneficial effects on several metabolic disorders associated with ALD. Natural products and related phytochemicals act through multiple pathways, such as modulating gut microbiota, improving redox stress, and anti-inflammation. In the present review article, we gather information on natural extract and bioactive compounds on the gut-liver axis for the possible treatment of ALD. Supplementation with natural extracts and bioactive compounds promoted the intestinal tight junction, protected against the alcohol-induced gut leakiness and inflammation, and reduced endotoxemia in alcohol-exposed animals. Taken together, natural extracts and bioactive compounds have strong potential against ALD; however, further clinical studies are still needed.
