Recent Advances in Research on Active Compounds Against Hepatic Fibrosis

Curr Med Chem. 2024;31(18):2571-2628. doi: 10.2174/0929867331666230727102016.

Abstract

Background: Almost all chronic liver diseases cause fibrosis, which can lead to cirrhosis and eventually liver cancer. Liver fibrosis is now considered to be a reversible pathophysiological process and suppression of fibrosis is necessary to prevent liver cancer. At present, no specific drugs have been found that have hepatic anti-fibrotic activity.

Objective: The research progress of anti-hepatic fibrosis compounds in recent ten years was reviewed to provide a reference for the design and development of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs.

Methods: According to the structure of the compounds, they are divided into monocyclic compounds, fused-heterocyclic compounds, and acyclic compounds.

Results: In this article, the natural products and synthetic compounds with anti-fibrotic activity in recent ten years were reviewed, with emphasis on their pharmacological activity and structure-activity relationship (SAR).

Conclusion: Most of these compounds are natural active products and their derivatives, and there are few researches on synthetic compounds and SAR studies on natural product.

Keywords: HSC; Liver fibrosis; SAR; chronic liver diseases; cirrhosis; collagen I..

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifibrotic Agents / chemistry
  • Antifibrotic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifibrotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biological Products* / chemistry
  • Biological Products* / pharmacology
  • Biological Products* / therapeutic use
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / drug therapy
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / pathology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Antifibrotic Agents
  • Heterocyclic Compounds