A review on anti-steatotic potential of herbal drugs in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic liver disorder in which hepatic fat accumulates in people who do not have a clinically significant history of alcohol excess. Its increasing occurrence parallels the worldwide rise in obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, poor dietary patterns, and physical inactivity. The clinical spectrum extends from uncomplicated steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis may develop in some patients, with a proportion of these cases progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma. Lifestyle modification remains central to management, while pharmacological treatment options have historically been limited. Consequently, medicinal plants and naturally occurring compounds have received considerable research interest because several possess antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, insulin sensitizing, and protective activities. This review discusses selected herbal interventions, including silymarin, turmeric, berberine, green tea, resveratrol, and cinnamon. The review summarizes their key constituents, possible mechanisms, and evidence obtained from experimental and clinical studies. These agents may act on several pathways implicated in NAFLD, such as oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, abnormal lipid handling, insulin resistance, and hepatic fat deposition. Herbal products may be considered supportive of therapeutic options and should not be used as substitutes for established evidence-based medical treatment. Larger, well-controlled clinical studies are required to clarify efficacy, long-term safety, standardization, and clinically meaningful outcomes.