Liver Diseases Associated with Insulin Resistance: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of the Green-derived Bioactive Lipopeptide Surfactin for the Prevention and Amelioration of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes and is gradually becoming a global epidemic that can cause serious health problems. NAFLD can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis, and death. The major causes are considered obesity, insulin resistance (IR), a family history of the condition, an inactive lifestyle, and consuming a high-fat diet. Due to IR, the body barely reacts to insulin, mainly during insulin-mediated glucose uptake, with normal or raised insulin levels. The use of several drugs to combat IR and NAFLD has led to increased cases of edema, weakened bones, and heart failure as side effects. Bioactive peptides can potentially enhance glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity by inducing several target pathways in the body, such as the digestion of carbohydrates, glucose uptake, the modification of adipose tissue, and insulin secretion. The lipopeptide surfactin exhibits a diverse array of biological activities, such as antibacterial, tissue modification, and antiviral effects. Recently, notable attention has been paid to microbe-derived peptides due to their alleviating effect on IR and NAFLD. In conclusion, emerging research on surfactin suggests a potential therapeutic impact in mitigating NAFLD through improving IR progression.