Inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation by nutraceuticals: an emphasis on mechanisms of action.

Liver diseases emerge as a serious threat to
humans worldwide due to increasing morbidity and mortality.
Liver disease related deaths accounts for one third
of all disease related death globally. A simple fatty liver if
unattended advances further to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and
hepatocellular carcinoma. During liver fibrogenesis, hepatic
stellate cells gets activated into myofibroblast like cells and
exhibit proliferative and fibrogenic features. Targeting these
activated hepatic stellate cells offer promising therapeutic
approach towards liver fibrosis management. To date there
is no Food and Drug Administration approved treatments for
liver fibrosis. However, a large number of clinical trials are
being conducted employing monoclonal antibodies, drugs,
dietary supplements and herbal medicines. A vast number of
research findings demonstrated nutraceuticals to be effective
against experimental liver fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo.
Nutraceuticals typically regulate key signaling pathways in
activated hepatic stellate cells and exhibit anti-fibrotic effect.
In this review, the mechanistic action of nutraceuticals targeting
activated hepatic stellate cells were summarized to
establish them as a possible therapeutic candidate for liver
fibrosis.