Protective effects of Bambusa vulgaris leaves extract on high-fat diet-induced MASLD: insights from in silico and in vivo study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely connected to obesity and ranks as one of the most common liver disorders worldwide. Bambusa vulgaris is a medicinal plant traditionally used as an alternative remedy in Southeast Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of Bambusa vulgaris leaf extract in obesity-related MASLD using both in silico and in vivo approaches. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the methanolic extract identified several key phytochemicals, including 2-[2,N-dimethyl-2-aminoethyl]benzofuran, β-sitosterol, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, 2,4,4-trimethylpentan-1-ol, phenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, terpinen-4-ol, and 4-hydroxy-3-methylacetophenone. In silico pharmacokinetic and molecular docking analyses showed that most of these compounds exhibit favourable drug-like properties, including high aqueous solubility, gastrointestinal absorption, blood-brain barrier permeability, and strong interactions with adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK). In vivo, oral administration of leaf extracts for four weeks in high-fat diet-induced obese rats significantly reduced obesity and MASLD-related changes by improving adipocyte function and decreasing hepatic steatosis. These effects were achieved through increased phosphorylation of AMPK and decreased activity of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) in the liver and adipose tissue, thereby enhancing lipid and carbohydrate metabolism disrupted by high-fat diet feeding. Additionally, the leaf extracts enhanced endogenous antioxidant defences and lowered oxidative stress. Overall, these results show that Bambusa vulgaris leaf extract has strong therapeutic effects against obesity and MASLD, underscoring its potential as a natural hepatoprotective and metabolic regulator. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-026-04735-w.