Broccoli leaf crude extract: a promising remedy for metabolic associated fatty liver diseases through lipid reduction, antioxidation, and anti‐inflammation

BACKGROUND: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver condition characterized by hepatic fat accumulation and metabolic abnormalities. Its pathology is closely linked to lipid metabolism disorders, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Dietary supplementation has recently emerged as a promising treatment strategy for MAFLD. Broccoli leaves, a by-product of broccoli, are rich in proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds. RESULTS: This study identified the active components in broccoli leaf crude extract (BLCE) using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and chemical methods, and confirmed its significant antioxidant activity through three in vitro assays. In oleic acid (OA)-induced HepG2 cells, BLCE attenuated the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), restored antioxidant markers (SOD, MDA, and GSH), and reduced intracellular total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, BLCE significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory factors - tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) - demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects. In a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD mouse model, BLCE reversed MAFLD by lowering serum and liver lipids, restoring liver function, morphology, and organization, and reducing liver injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Finally, the study identified 487 intersecting genes and screened 20 core targets through network pharmacology. Enrichment analysis revealed that BLCE's anti-MAFLD effects mainly involve hormone regulation, the carboxylic acid metabolic process, and the cAMP signaling pathway. Moreover, molecular docking results showed that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a central target, and key compounds in BLCE exhibit significant affinity and bind effectively, contributing to anti-MAFLD effects. CONCLUSION: Broccoli leaf crude extract may be an effective dietary supplement for alleviating MAFLD by suppressing hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.