Meta-analysis shows salidroside improves metabolic markers in rodent NAFLD models

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the therapeutic effect of salidroside on rodent NAFLD models through a meta-analysis of multiple animal experiments, and to explore its potential mechanism of anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation, to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of salidroside in NAFLD.MethodsA total of 12 eligible animal studies were identified by searching eight databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM (up to June 2025). The SYRCLE bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature. The review used Manager 5.4 and Stata 18 software to perform a meta-analysis of the outcome indicators included in the study.ResultsMeta-analysis showed salidroside significantly improved multiple outcomes: for the main outcome indicators: hepatic TG (SMD = −3.88), hepatic TC (SMD = −4.15), the NAS score (SMD = −4.79) were significantly decreased. And basic indicators, body weight (SMD = −0.75), liver weight (SMD = −1.12), and liver index (SMD = −2.24) all decreased; for lipid metabolism indicators, serum TG (SMD = −2.92), serum TC (SMD = −2.11), and LDL-C (SMD = −2.82) decreased while HDL-C (SMD = 2.34) increased, notably with dose-dependent improvements in hepatic TG and serum TC (better effect at ≥100 mg/kg/d) and rats being more sensitive to serum TG improvement; for liver function indicators, serum ALT (SMD = −3.26) and AST (SMD = −2.80) decreased, with a more pronounced effect when treatment duration was ≤4 weeks; the NAS score decreased, with a better therapeutic effect in rats than in mice; and for secondary indicators, FBG (SMD = −1.74), FSI (SMD = −1.88), HOMA-IR (SMD = −2.54), and MDA (SMD = −3.24) decreased, GSH (SMD = 3.51) and SOD (SMD = 3.96) increased, and IL-6 (SMD = −2.28), IL-1β (SMD = −1.31), and MCP-1 (SMD = −1.71) decreased. Sensitivity analysis and funnel plots indicated that the results were robust; however, a certain degree of publication bias was present.ConclusionIn rodent NAFLD models, salidroside can significantly improve the pathological state dominated by oxidative stress/inflammation. The treatment effect is affected by the treatment time, dose, type, and other factors. Its mechanism of action is mainly anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects. Due to the differences in pathological characteristics between animal models and humans in this study, the clinical efficacy and safety of salidroside still need to be further verified by high-quality clinical studies.Systematic Review RegistrationIdentifier, CRD420251083205.