Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41514305›Full record

ReviewChinese medicine2026

Targeting the intestinal barrier with traditional Chinese medicine for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: mechanistic insights and therapeutic perspectives.

Xinyue Cheng, Shan Li, Chuntian Huang, Yi Yang, Rong Liu, Shuaibing Cao, Lei Luo, Baoping Lu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Chinese medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Tetrandrine, a Major Alkaloid FromFood science & nutrition · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Xinyue ChengThe Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Shan LiMedical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Chuntian HuangMedical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Yi YangMedical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Rong LiuThe Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Shuaibing CaoThe Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.
Lei LuoHenan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Zhengzhou, 450002, China. luolei@hactcm.edu.cn.
Baoping LuHenan University of Chinese Medicine, No. 156, Jinshui East Road, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China. lbp1921@sohu.com.

Funding

Henan Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific Research Special Project 2025ZY1031Joint Fund Project of Henan Province Science and Technology R & D Plan (Advantageous Discipline Cultivation Category) 242301420081National Natural Science Foundation of China 8230153385
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease closely associated with metabolic dysregulation, exhibiting a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Recent studies demonstrate that impaired intestinal barrier function, intestinal immune barrier dysfunction, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and their associated metabolites collectively promote energy metabolism dysregulation and systemic inflammatory responses via the gut-liver axis. These interconnected processes represent key drivers in the pathogenesis and progression of NAFLD. Notably, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a promising therapeutic approach for NAFLD by holistically modulating intestinal barrier function, immune responses, and gut microbiota composition via multiple targets and pathways, thereby ameliorating gut dysbiosis and its downstream metabolic and inflammatory sequelae. This review systematically synthesizes the established relationship between NAFLD and intestinal barrier dysfunction. It critically evaluates current research progress on TCM interventions-including single herbs, bioactive constituents, and compound formulas-that target the intestinal barrier for NAFLD management. Key mechanistic insights into TCM efficacy are summarized, focusing on the repair of the intestinal mucosal barrier, modulation of bile acid metabolism and gut microbiota composition, and enhancement of intestinal immune barrier function. Future research should prioritize elucidating the specific molecular mechanisms underpinning TCM-mediated intestinal barrier regulation and strengthening clinical validation, ultimately advancing the scientific foundation for TCM-based NAFLD therapeutics.

Indexed as

Bile acid metabolismGut-liver axisGut microbiotaIntestinal barrierNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseTraditional Chinese Medicine

Identifiers

PMID41514305
PMCPMC12784520

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.