Publication Name	World Journal of Hepatology
Manuscript ID	121954
DOI	10.4254/wjh.121954
Country	China

Category	Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Manuscript Type	Basic Study
Article Title	Poria in Fuling Zexie decoction for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Underlying mechanisms and key bioactive substances
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Yu-Xuan Tao, Di-Hong Gong, Huan Yang, Peng-Quan Wang, Yan-Mei Tang, Qi-Di Zhou, Yan-Yan Wang, Yue Zhang, Wei-Dong Chen, Jie Yu and Xing-Xin Yang
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Xing-Xin Yang, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, No. 1076 Yuhua Road, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China. yxx78945@163.com
Key Words	Effective substances; Fuling Zexie decoction; Lipid metabolism; Liver disease; Mechanism; Poria; Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Core Tip	This study clarified the specific contribution of Poria (PR) as the “sovereign” drug in Fuling Zexie decoction (FZD) for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. We confirmed that PR plays an irreplaceable role and its removal significantly weakened the therapeutic efficacy of FZD. The superior effects of FZD were attributed to diverse active components (six derived from PR), the specific regulation of five metabolic pathways (biotin, ascorbate/aldarate, alanine/aspartate/glutamate, inositol phosphate, and galactose metabolism), and 148 differential metabolites. Additionally, incorporating PR dregs enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating that water-insoluble polysaccharides are key bioactive constituents.
Citation	Tao YX, Gong DH, Yang H, Wang PQ, Tang YM, Zhou QD, Wang YY, Zhang Y, Chen WD, Yu J, Yang XX. Poria in Fuling Zexie decoction for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Underlying mechanisms and key bioactive substances. World J Hepatol 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.121954

Received	2026-04-09 03:21
Peer-Review Started	2026-04-09 03:23
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-16 07:57
Return for Revision	2026-04-17 05:55
Revised	2026-05-10 09:27
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-05-12 06:32
Second Decision by Editor	2026-06-02 02:42
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-06-02 07:42
Articles in Press	2026-06-02 07:42
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5182 (online)
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