Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 23, 2025 6 hours, 56 minutes ago
Medical News: A Traditional Herb Shows Powerful Regenerative Effects
A new study from researchers at the School of Chinese Materia Medica and the School of Life Sciences at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine has revealed that Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata extract—an ancient traditional remedy—can significantly boost the liver’s ability to repair itself after major injury or surgery. The findings offer fresh hope for people facing liver damage, chronic liver disease or complications after liver surgery, and this
Medical News report highlights how this herbal extract helps the liver recover faster by powering key metabolic pathways.
A traditional Rehmannia root extract was found to accelerate natural liver regeneration
Understanding How the Herb Supports Liver Healing
The research team used a mouse model in which 70 percent of the liver had been surgically removed—a standard test to measure natural regeneration. Mice given the Rehmannia extract showed faster liver regrowth, reduced damage markers and healthier tissue structure. What made the results especially striking was how the extract rewired the liver’s energy systems to handle the heavy workload required for rapid cell division.
The herb activated AMPK, a master energy-sensing protein that switches the body from energy storage to energy production. Once AMPK was switched on, liver cells burned fat more efficiently, produced more acetyl-CoA—a key molecule needed for both energy and DNA-related processes—and strengthened the metabolic machinery needed for cell regeneration.
Key Metabolic Changes That Drive Regeneration
Detailed molecular analysis showed several important changes in the treated mice:
• Stronger cell growth signals – Genes involved in DNA replication and cell division were more active.
• Enhanced fat breakdown – Phospholipids and fatty acids that normally slow cell growth were reduced.
• More acetyl-CoA availability – This boosted both energy production and beneficial epigenetic changes linked to regeneration.
• Improved glucose handling – The extract pushed glucose into the pentose phosphate pathway, which produces essential building blocks for new DNA.
• Better mitochondrial performance – Tests on primary liver cells showed higher oxygen use, more ATP production and sturdier mitochondria overall.
When researchers blocked AMPK with an inhibitor, all these benefits disappeared, confirming that AMPK activation is at the heart of the herb’s regenerative power.
Conclusion
The study reveals that Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata extract supports liver recovery by triggering AMPK-driven metabolic reprogramming, improving both energy supply and cell-division readiness. By strengthening f
at burning, boosting acetyl-CoA, enhancing glucose pathways and protecting mitochondria, the extract creates the ideal internal conditions for rapid, healthy liver regrowth. These findings point to the possibility of using this traditional herb as a supportive therapy for liver injury and post-surgery recovery, but more clinical research will still be needed to understand dosing and long-term safety.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/22/3579
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