metabolic-disease
A metabolic disease in plants is a disorder that disrupts the normal processing and distribution of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, often caused by abnormal chemical reactions or genetic defects. This is significant for plant science because metabolic disorders directly affect nutrient uptake, growth, and productivity in both wild and cultivated plants. Understanding these diseases helps researchers develop strategies to improve crop resilience, nutritional quality, and agricultural sustainability.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-03-25
A compound from dandelion called taraxasterol restores liver function in mice fed a high-fat diet by activating a key protein (FXR) that regulates fat and sugar metabolism, providing molecular evidence for dandelion's traditional use in liver health.
Taraxasterol reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation in high-fat diet-induced MASLD mouse models
Network pharmacology analysis identified FXR signaling pathway as the primary therapeutic mechanism for taraxasterol's multi-target effects
FXR knockdown completely abolished taraxasterol's protective effects, confirming FXR is essential for the compound's hepatoprotective action
