SMS (Sophora moorcroftiana seeds 70% ethanol extract) alleviates MASLD through coordinated modulation of gut microbiota composition, SCFA metabolism, intestinal barrier function, and inflammatory responses, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic strategy targeting the gut-liver axis.
SMS markedly alleviated hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced MASLD mice by reducing triglyceride synthesis and hepatocellular lipid accumulation.
SMS promoted the proliferation of beneficial gut bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia, in HFD-fed mice.
SMS increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, in HFD-induced MASLD mice.
SMS restored intestinal barrier integrity through upregulation of tight junction proteins Occludin and Claudin-1, thereby reducing circulating LPS levels.
SMS attenuated inflammation by inhibiting activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro.
SMS reduced inflammatory cytokines and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB-associated signaling in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells.
This research suggests that an ethanol extract from the seeds of the Tibetan plant Sophora moorcroftiana (called SMS) may help treat a common liver condition known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which involves fat buildup in the liver often linked to high-fat diets. Using mice fed a high-fat diet to mimic the disease, the researchers found that SMS reduced liver fat accumulation, decreased fat synthesis, and lowered markers of liver damage. The extract appeared to work through multiple connected pathways involving the gut and liver. A central part of the study focused on the 'gut-liver axis' — the biological communication between the gut and liver. SMS reshaped the gut bacterial community by increasing beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia, while also boosting the production of short-chain fatty acids (especially butyrate), which are protective compounds made when gut bacteria digest fiber. SMS also strengthened the gut's protective lining by increasing levels of proteins that seal the gut wall, which prevented harmful bacterial products (LPS) from leaking into the bloodstream and triggering liver inflammation. This anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed both in mice and in lab-grown intestinal cells. This research suggests that SMS may represent a promising plant-based approach to addressing MASLD by simultaneously targeting gut bacteria imbalance, gut barrier dysfunction, and liver inflammation — all of which are interconnected contributors to the disease. While these results are from animal and cell studies and further research including human clinical trials would be needed, the findings add scientific support to the traditional use of this plant for liver conditions and highlight the gut-liver axis as an important target for MASLD treatment strategies.
Chu X, Zhang S, Cui M, Sun X, Chen X, Gao L, et al.. (2026). Sophora moorcroftiana Seeds Ethanol Extract Against Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis, SCFAs, and Related Inflammation.. International journal of molecular sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27167368