PubMed · 2026-05-23
An extract from Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (snake-needle grass), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, significantly reduced liver scarring in animal models of chronic liver disease. The protective effect appears to work through the gut-liver axis — reshaping gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism — providing a mechanistic basis for its centuries-old clinical use.
HDW extract markedly alleviated carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in an animal model, confirming antifibrotic activity
Protective mechanisms operate along the gut-liver axis, specifically through modulation of gut microbiota composition and bile acid metabolism
Findings provide the first mechanistic framework linking Hedyotis diffusa's traditional hepatoprotective use to microbiome-mediated pathways
