Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent global health issue closely tied to dietary habits, impacting a significant portion of the adult population. MAFLD is linked to various metabolic disorders, elevating risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and severely impactin...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Yuru Deng Jie Cui Yuxuan Jiang Jian Zhang Jinchi Jiang Quanbin Zhang Yonghong Hu |
| author_facet | Yuru Deng Jie Cui Yuxuan Jiang Jian Zhang Jinchi Jiang Quanbin Zhang Yonghong Hu |
| author_sort | Yuru Deng |
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| description | Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent global health issue closely tied to dietary habits, impacting a significant portion of the adult population. MAFLD is linked to various metabolic disorders, elevating risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and severely impacting patients’ quality of life. While therapeutic research has progressed, effective food-based interventions remain scarce. Natural products, rich in bioactive compounds and offering health benefits, have gained attention for their potential in managing MAFLD. This study employed network pharmacology and lipidomics to investigate the therapeutic effects of Food and Medicine Homology (FMH) on MAFLD using a high-fat-diet-induced HepG2 cell model. We identified 169 potential bioactive components from <i>Radix Puerariae</i>, <i>Hericium erinaceus</i>, <i>Rhizoma Curcumae longae</i>, <i>Camellia oleifera</i>, and <i>Hoveniae Dulcis</i> Semen, constructing a drug–component–target network that highlighted 34 key targets. The characteristic components of this FMH compound solution (HSD) were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. In vitro, HSD significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation, decreased inflammatory markers, and mitigated hepatocyte damage. Lipidomics analysis revealed significant alterations in lipid metabolites, suggesting HSD’s potential to modulate sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism, thus improving MAFLD outcomes. This research underscores the critical role of the FMH complex in modulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways, offering valuable insights for developing FMH-based dietary supplements and functional foods to alleviate MAFLD. By leveraging the synergistic effects of natural compounds, our findings hold significant implications for innovative nutritional strategies in managing this prevalent metabolic disorder. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b34fd56b654d4348a29bb4eb8de7ae06 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-b34fd56b654d4348a29bb4eb8de7ae062025-08-20T03:08:53ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01147125710.3390/foods14071257Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network PharmacologyYuru Deng0Jie Cui1Yuxuan Jiang2Jian Zhang3Jinchi Jiang4Quanbin Zhang5Yonghong Hu6College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaInstitute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, ChinaMetabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a prevalent global health issue closely tied to dietary habits, impacting a significant portion of the adult population. MAFLD is linked to various metabolic disorders, elevating risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and severely impacting patients’ quality of life. While therapeutic research has progressed, effective food-based interventions remain scarce. Natural products, rich in bioactive compounds and offering health benefits, have gained attention for their potential in managing MAFLD. This study employed network pharmacology and lipidomics to investigate the therapeutic effects of Food and Medicine Homology (FMH) on MAFLD using a high-fat-diet-induced HepG2 cell model. We identified 169 potential bioactive components from <i>Radix Puerariae</i>, <i>Hericium erinaceus</i>, <i>Rhizoma Curcumae longae</i>, <i>Camellia oleifera</i>, and <i>Hoveniae Dulcis</i> Semen, constructing a drug–component–target network that highlighted 34 key targets. The characteristic components of this FMH compound solution (HSD) were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. In vitro, HSD significantly reduced intracellular lipid accumulation, decreased inflammatory markers, and mitigated hepatocyte damage. Lipidomics analysis revealed significant alterations in lipid metabolites, suggesting HSD’s potential to modulate sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism, thus improving MAFLD outcomes. This research underscores the critical role of the FMH complex in modulating lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways, offering valuable insights for developing FMH-based dietary supplements and functional foods to alleviate MAFLD. By leveraging the synergistic effects of natural compounds, our findings hold significant implications for innovative nutritional strategies in managing this prevalent metabolic disorder.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/7/1257metabolic-associated fatty liver diseasefood and medicine homologynatural productsnetwork pharmacologylipidomics |
| spellingShingle | Yuru Deng Jie Cui Yuxuan Jiang Jian Zhang Jinchi Jiang Quanbin Zhang Yonghong Hu Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology Foods metabolic-associated fatty liver disease food and medicine homology natural products network pharmacology lipidomics |
| title | Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology |
| title_full | Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology |
| title_short | Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of a Food–Medicine Compound for Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease via Lipidomics and Network Pharmacology |
| title_sort | exploring the nutraceutical potential of a food medicine compound for metabolic associated fatty liver disease via lipidomics and network pharmacology |
| topic | metabolic-associated fatty liver disease food and medicine homology natural products network pharmacology lipidomics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/7/1257 |
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