Research Article Details
Article ID: | A50668 |
PMID: | 35308224 |
Source: | Front Pharmacol |
Title: | Pharmacological Effects and Molecular Protective Mechanisms of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. |
Abstract: | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a condition for which there is now no authorized treatment. The search for new medications to treat MAFLD made from natural substances is gaining traction. The function of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, hypoglycaemic, antiviral, hypolipidemic, and immunomodulatory actions of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), a chemical molecule isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, has become the focus of therapeutic attention. We have a large number of papers on the pharmacological effects of APS on NAFLD that have never been systematically reviewed before. According to our findings, APS may help to slow the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Lipid metabolism, insulin resistance (IR), oxidative stress (OS), endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), inflammation, fibrosis, autophagy, and apoptosis are some of the pathogenic pathways involved. SIRT1/PPARα/FGF21, PI3K/AKT/IRS-1, AMPK/ACC, mTOR/4EBP-1/S6K1, GRP78/IRE-1/JNK, AMPK/PGC-1/NRF1, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, and TGF-β/Smad pathways were the most common molecular protective mechanisms. All of the information presented in this review suggests that APS is a natural medication with a lot of promise for NAFLD, but more study, bioavailability studies, medicine type and dosage, and clinical proof are needed. This review could be useful for basic research, pharmacological development, and therapeutic applications of APS in the management of MAFLD. |
DOI: | 10.3389/fphar.2022.854674 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
S04 | Anti-oxidative stress | oxidative stress | α-tocopherol: antioxidant | Vitamin E | Details |
S13 | Anti-apoptosis | hepatocyte apoptosis; hepatic autophagy; apoptosis | Pan-caspase inhibitor | Emricasan | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T01 | 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase subunit beta-1 | PRKAB1 | activator | Kinase | Q9Y478 | AAKB1_HUMAN | Details |
T18 | Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 | ACACA | inhibitor | Enzyme | Q13085 | ACACA_HUMAN | Details |
T28 | Fibroblast growth factor 21 | FGF21 | analogue | Secreted | Q9NSA1 | FGF21_HUMAN | Details |
T09 | Toll-like receptor 4 | TLR4 | antagonist | Membrane receptor | O00206 | TLR4_HUMAN | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D581 | sobetirome | Chemical drug | -- | Thyroid hormone receptor beta agonists | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |