The liver plays an important role in
glucose and
lipid homeostasis, drug metabolism, and bile synthesis. Metabolic disorder and
inflammation synergistically contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous
liver diseases, such as metabolic-associated
fatty liver disease (MAFLD), liver injury, and
liver cancer.
Celastrol, a
triterpene derived from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f., has been extensively studied in metabolic and inflammatory diseases during the last several decades. Here we comprehensively review the pharmacological activities and the underlying mechanisms of
celastrol in the prevention and treatment of
liver diseases including MAFLD, liver injury, and
liver cancer. In addition, we also discuss the importance of novel methodologies and perspectives for the drug development of
celastrol. Although
celastrol has been claimed as a promising agent against several
metabolic diseases, both preclinical and clinical studies are highly required to accelerate the clinical transformation of
celastrol in treating different liver illness. It is foreseeable that
celastrol-derived
therapeutics is evolving in the field of liver ailments.