Guest Editors
Assoc. Prof. Xudong Zhou
Email: xudongzhou999@163.com
Affiliation: TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation & Development International Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China.
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Research Interests: natural product chemistry, ethnic and traditional Chinese medicine, bioactive constituent discovery, pharmacological evaluation, molecular pharmacology, signaling pathways
Assist. Prof. Yi-Yuan Xi
Email: xiyiyuan2@163.com
Affiliation: The Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
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Research Interests: natural products, bioactivities, hepatoprotection, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic disorders
Summary
Natural products represent a vast reservoir of bioactive compounds with immense potential for modulating liver health and disease. To advance the field from phenomenological observation to mechanistic understanding and reproducible application, it is essential to investigate structurally defined monomeric compounds. The precise molecular mechanisms by which specific phytochemicals, characterized alkaloids, unique terpenoids, or other pure compounds—individually or in combination—interact with hepatic cells to influence signaling pathways, cell fate decisions, and organ homeostasis, remain a central and critical frontier.
This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality original research and review articles that elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of natural products, with a required focus on chemically characterized monomers. We seek submissions that employ clearly identified monomeric compound(s) to dissect specific interactions with molecular targets and pathways relevant to liver biology and pathology. Studies investigating the concerted effects of multiple defined monomers are also within scope. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, modulation of oxidative stress responses (e.g., via Nrf2), regulation of bile acid metabolism (e.g., via FXR), induction or inhibition of specific cell death programs (e.g., ferroptosis, apoptosis), and mediation of cross-talk along the gut-liver axis. Studies integrating advanced methodological approaches—such as network pharmacology, multi-omics analyses, genetic perturbation models, and targeted delivery strategies—to validate proposed mechanisms are particularly encouraged.
Research topics include but are not limited to:
1. Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatoprotection: Investigating how bioactive compounds activate cytoprotective signaling pathways (e.g., Nrf2/ARE, PI3K/Akt, AMPK) to combat oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis in various models of liver injury.
2. Discovery of Active Natural Products-Associated Hepatoprotection: Investigating the extraction, isolation and structure elucidation of bioactive compounds from plants and microbes, using the hepatoprotection activity-oriented approach.
3. Mechanisms of Natural Product-Associated Liver Injury: Elucidating the cellular pathways leading to hepatotoxicity, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, disruption of bile acid homeostasis, induction of specific cell death modalities, and metabolic activation.
4. The Gut-Liver Axis as a Therapeutic Interface: Exploring how natural compounds influence liver health by modulating gut microbiota, intestinal barrier function, and systemic immune-inflammation responses.
5. Regulation of Hepatic Cell Fate and Plasticity: Studying the effects on processes like hepatic stellate cell activation, hepatocyte senescence, regeneration, and carcinogenesis, focusing on the underlying signaling networks.
6. Immunomodulation in the Liver Microenvironment: Providing mechanistic insights into how natural products alter the function and polarization of immune cells within the liver, impacting disease progression.
7. Innovative Approaches for Discovery and Translation: Employing computational tools, multi-omics integration, and novel delivery systems to identify active principles, predict targets, and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of natural products.
Keywords
hepatoprotection; molecular mechanism; natural products; phytochemicals; secondary metabolites; chemical structure; structural modification; biotransformation; biological activities; gut-liver axis; immunomodulation
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