RESUMO
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases. However, due to its complex pathogenesis, there are no officially approved drugs for NAFLD treatment currently. Therefore, it is extremely urgent to find safe and effective anti-NAFLD drugs. Nowadays, lipid-lowering drugs are the main option for NAFLD therapy, but the clinical efficacy of chemical drugs is also very limited, as well as the frequent side effects or adverse reactions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted more and more attention in the treatment of NAFLD due to its unique advantages through multiple targets and pathways with few side effects. In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated that the imbalance of gut microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. This review systematically summarizes the experimental and clinical evidences of TCM active compounds and TCM prescription involved in the regulation of intestinal flora in the treatment of NAFLD in recent years, so as to provide a reference for further exploring the pathogenesis of NAFLD and exploring TCM treatment methods.