Effects and Mechanism of Morinda Officinalis How on Metabolism-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Aims: This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of Morinda Officinalis How (MOH), a lianoid shrub with potential therapeutic properties, on Metabolism- Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). Objective: The objective of this study was to construct a MOH-MAFLD network prediction model and explore the effect of MOH on MAFLD and its underlying mechanism in vivo. Methods: Screening of MAFLD targets was performed using the DisGeNET database. Venny database was used to establish the MOH-MAFLD interaction network map, while the STRING database was applied to assess the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network. The central target gene was screened using Gene Ontology (GO) function analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. Results: GO function enrichment analysis revealed that MOH affected MAFLD through apoptosis and estrogen-related pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment and PPI network analysis indicated that MOH might mitigate MAFLD by reducing apoptosis and improving lipid metabolism. Additionally, 6 weeks of MOH treatment in rats decreased caspase-3 levels and increased Bcl-2, Estrogen receptor α(Esr1), and JUN proteins, thus ameliorating MAFLD progression. Conclusion: MOH could delay the progression of MAFLD by affecting estrogen-related pathways, reducing cell stress, and inhibiting apoptosis.