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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a widespread chronic liver condition driven by disordered fat metabolism in the liver, and its global prevalence is rising. Closely related conditions — known as hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver syndrome — also affect companion animals such as obese cats and dogs, as well as livestock including dairy cows, pigs, and chickens, causing significant economic and welfare consequences. Conventional therapeutic options for these conditions remain limited.
Researchers conducted a systematic review of recent scientific literature to examine how flavonoid compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine — particularly quercetin, apigenin, and luteolin — may protect against fatty liver disease across both human and veterinary contexts. They focused on identifying the molecular pathways through which these compounds act.
The review found that these flavonoids appear to work through several interconnected biological mechanisms: they help restore normal liver fat metabolism by activating key signalling pathways, suppress the production of new fat by blocking a central lipid-generating factor, and accelerate fat breakdown. They also appear to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver and slow the progression of liver scarring. Emerging evidence also suggests roles in regulating cellular self-cleaning processes, a form of cell death called ferroptosis, and gut microbiome balance.
The authors note current limitations, including poor absorption of flavonoids in the body and incomplete understanding of how different flavonoids interact with one another. Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine-derived flavonoids show promising multi-target activity against fatty liver disease in both humans and animals, though further research into bioavailability and species-specific effects is needed before widespread clinical application.
Source: Wang Y, Wan C, Mu L et al. Frontiers in veterinary science (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42283012) · doi:10.3390/nu16193330