Hepatic fibrosis is the pathological consequence of abnormal extracellular matrix deposition in the liver during the self-repair process following chronic injury. Persistent hepatic fibrosis can progress to malignant conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Currently, no specific therapeutic drugs exist for hepatic fibrosis, therefore, early prevention and intervention are of great significance for delaying disease progression and reducing the incidence of severe liver diseases. In recent years, terpenoids have emerged as a research hotspot due to their significant multi-target and multi-pathway anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. Their mechanisms are associated with anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, and the regulation of extracellular matrix deposition and degradation. This article systematically reviews natural terpenoids with anti-hepatic fibrosis activity reported in domestic and international literature in recent years, and summarizes their chemical structures and molecular mechanisms, providing a theoretical basis and research perspectives for the research and development of innovative anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs derived from terpenoids.

hepatic fibrosis  /  natural drugs  /  oleanlic acid  /  TGF/Smad pathway  /  Nrf2/HO-1 pathway