Functional roles and regulatory mechanisms of paeonol in the treatment of liver disease

Liver disease is a serious threat to human health, so its prevention and treatment have been the focus of medical research. In the past few years, natural products have proved to be promising and valuable in the treatment of liver diseases. The bioactive substance paeonol, extracted from the root bark of peony (Paeonia lactiflora) of the buttercup family, is a promising drug candidate because of its low toxicity and multifaceted pharmacological properties. This review comprehensively explored the therapeutic potential of paeonol in different liver pathologies as well as the regulatory mechanisms. Despite its promising potential, the poor solubility and rapid metabolism of paeonol hindered its clinical translation. To improve bioavailability and liver targeting, we highlighted the potential of paeonol as a next-generation therapy for liver diseases by integrating preclinical evidence and technological advances, while exploring key avenues for future research, such as metabolic regulation and smart nanocarrier design.