New insight and potential therapy for NAFLD: CYP2E1 and flavonoids

Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 May:137:111326. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111326. Epub 2021 Feb 5.

Abstract

Over the years, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased year by year; however, due to its complicated pathogenesis, there is no effective treatment so far. It is reported that Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) plays an indispensable role in the development of NAFLD, and numerous studies have shown that flavonoids have a hepatoprotective effect and can exert a beneficial effect on NAFLD by regulating the activity of CYP2E1. Therefore, flavonoids may become effective drugs for the treatment of NAFLD in the future. This prompted us to review the research progress of the pathological mechanism of NAFLD and the impact of CYP2E1 activity changes during the pathological process, and to summarize the protective effect of flavonoids against CYP2E1 activity.

Keywords: CYP2E1; Flavonoids; NAFL; NAFLD; NASH.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / metabolism*
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / genetics
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Protective Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Protective Agents
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1