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

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.