Natural Products for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review
, Rosamaria Caminiti 1, Maria Serra 1, Roberto Bava 1,*, Fabio Castagna 1, Carmine Lupia 2,3, Mariangela Marrelli 4, Filomena Conforti 4, Giancarlo Statti 4, Vincenzo Mollace 1,5,6 and Ernesto Palma 1,5,6
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReviewer’s comments
This review article "Bioactive compounds of plants as promising therapeutics in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease", by Nucera S et al., reviewed the protective effects of plant-derived bioactive compounds on NAFLD. The authors have covered the signaling pathways of plant-derived bioactive compounds and the mechanisms of action of not only NAFLD but also other metabolic and cardiovascular syndromes. The use of these bioactive compounds demonstrated an encouraging response, seems beneficial as preventive or alternative supplements to alleviate several metabolic or disease conditions, and can’t be used as medications.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageLine 250 - Fat acid oxidation
Line 972 - natural items to treat NAFLD.
Author Response
Many thanks to the reviewer for the appreciation and the time dedicated to reviewing the paper.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReview of the Article: "Bioactive compounds of plants as promising therapeutics in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease"
Summary:
The article titled "Natural Products for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review" provides an extensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and explores potential therapeutic avenues, with a specific focus on natural products and their derivatives. The article effectively highlights the importance of the liver in overall health, the rising prevalence of NAFLD, its progression, and the limitations of conventional treatments. The review also disusses some bioactive compounds from natural products as a promising pharmacological medications for the NAFLD.
The article provides a well-rounded and comprehensive view of NAFLD, including its epidemiology, progression, and current treatment approaches. I suggest rephrasing the title to :"Natural Products for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review".
The focus on natural products and plant-derived compounds as potential therapies for NAFLD is highly relevant, given the increasing interest in alternative and holistic healthcare. The article mentions the positive effects of natural products in NAFLD treatment, in this sense, I suggest adding clinical evidences on the reported bioactive compounds.
Ensure that in-text citations are consistently used throughout the article to support statements and claims. Ensure that all the scientific names are in Italics.
Consider incorporating visual aids such as figures, diagrams, or tables to illustrate key concepts, pathways, or data related to NAFLD and the mechanisms of action of natural products.
Author Response
Many thanks to the reviewer dedicated to reviewing the paper and for his important suggestions that improved the paper.
As recommended by the reviewer we have included two other figures: figure 1 where the role of insulin resistance in NAFLD is represented and figure 3 where the natural compounds and targets in the progression of NAFLD are represented.
We have also included a table (Table 2) which reports the biological effects of the main botanical species used in the treatment of NAFLD.
The bibliographic notes have been revised and we have corrected the scientific names in italics.
Finally, a paragraph on clinical studies has been added and the title has been changed as suggested.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsA review by Nucera et al. on the role of natural products in treating NAFLD is an interesting and well-written review discussing important views, whereas the literature on natural products is relatively sparse. Certain parts can be extended as mentioned below.
1. Flavanones: naringenin, hesperetin, coffee polyphenols should be included
2. Baicalein and troxerutin are missing
3. Prevention and management like lifestyle modifications, dietary supplementation, and physical activity should be included
4. Moderate editing of the English language required
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageModerate editing of English language required
Author Response
A review by Nucera et al. on the role of natural products in treating NAFLD is an interesting and well-written review discussing important views, whereas the literature on natural products is relatively sparse. Certain parts can be extended as mentioned below.
Response: We thank the reviewer for his comments and revision work that helps us improve the quality of the manuscript. We also apologise profusely because we are starting to respond late and at what, for other reviewers, is the second round of review. There must have been some problem as we did not display the third reviewer in the first round.
- Flavanones: naringenin, hesperetin, coffee polyphenols should be included
R.: Thanks to the reviewer for his suggestion. Naringenin and hesperetin have been added to the text in a separate paragraph under the title Citrus spp. flavonoids. The properties of coffee polyphenols have been described and discussed under the heading “coffee” in the chapter “Natural products in NASH treatment”.
- Baicalein and troxerutin are missing
R.: Thanks to the reviewer for his suggestion. A paragraph for each has been added in the text of the manuscript.
- Prevention and management like lifestyle modifications, dietary supplementation, and physical activity should be included
R.: We would like to thank the reviewer for this important comment, which further helps to complete the subject matter of the manuscript. A dedicated paragraph has been added before the conclusions.
- Moderate editing of the English language required
R.: English has been revised throughout the manuscript.
Dear editor,
Thank you very much for considering our review. We have responded to all the comments requested by the reviewers. We have corrected the parts indicated by them and supplemented the document with their requests. Below you will find the corrections and additions we made
A review by Nucera et al. on the role of natural products in treating NAFLD is an interesting and well-written review discussing important views, whereas the literature on natural products is relatively sparse. Certain parts can be extended as mentioned below.
Response: We thank the reviewer for his comments and revision work that helps us improve the quality of the manuscript. We also apologise profusely because we are starting to respond late and at what, for other reviewers, is the second round of review. There must have been some problem as we did not display the third reviewer in the first round.
- Flavanones: naringenin, hesperetin, coffee polyphenols should be included
R.: Thanks to the reviewer for his suggestion. Naringenin and hesperetin have been added to the text in a separate paragraph under the title Citrus spp. flavonoids. The properties of coffee polyphenols have been described and discussed under the heading “coffee” in the chapter “Natural products in NASH treatment”.
- Baicalein and troxerutin are missing
R.: Thanks to the reviewer for his suggestion. A paragraph for each has been added in the text of the manuscript.
- Prevention and management like lifestyle modifications, dietary supplementation, and physical activity should be included
R.: We would like to thank the reviewer for this important comment, which further helps to complete the subject matter of the manuscript. A dedicated paragraph has been added before the conclusions.
- Moderate editing of the English language required
R.: English has been revised throughout the manuscript.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAccept as it is.
Author Response
Thank you very much for your appreciation.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAccept in present form
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageMinor editing of the English language required
