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

doi:10.3390/antiox11061211

Antioxidants (Jun 2022)

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

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11061211
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 6
p. 1211

Abstract

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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.

Published in Antioxidants

ISSN: 2076-3921 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/antioxidants

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