肠道微生物群在中药治疗非酒精性脂肪性肝病中的作用

非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)是一种与遗传和环境因素密切相关的代谢性疾病,可发展为肝纤维化、肝硬化,以致肝细胞癌。近年来, NAFLD的患病率逐年上升,目前还缺乏明确的药物治疗方法。中药在NAFLD防治中具有很大潜力但相关机制研究较少。越来越多的证据表明,肠道菌群与NAFLD的发生发展密切相关,肠道菌研究为阐明中药的作用机制开辟了新的视野。本文旨在介绍肠道菌群与NAFLD发生、发展的关系,解析肠道菌群调节在以中药为基础的NAFLD治疗中的作用及机制,以期为相关研究提供参考。

Role of gut microbiota in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with traditional Chinese medicine

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a genetic and environmental factor-associated metabolic disease that can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent decades the prevalence of NAFLD has increased, but effective pharmacotherapy is limited. Treatment regimens in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) have made significant contributions to the control of NAFLD, but underlying mechanisms are far less elucidated. Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and development of diseases including NAFLD. The outcomes of such research open a new approach in identifying the molecular mechanisms of TCM. Here we review the evidence that gut microbiota might be a target in the treatment NAFLD using TCM.