This review summarizes recent studies on the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with Polygonatum. NAFLD is among the most common chronic metabolic liver diseases worldwide. With the widespread adoption of high-nutrient, high-energy feeding regimes and intensive farming practices, NAFLD has become a common lipid metabolism disorder in livestock, poultry and companion animals. Polygonatum is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that is both a medicine and a food. Currently, many studies have confirmed that Polygonatum is rich in polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids and plant sterols. Moreover, studies have confirmed that these compounds regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. These effects are achieved by reducing liver oxidative stress, alleviating inflammatory responses and balancing intestinal microbial flora homeostasis. Therefore, this review starts with the etiology of NAFLD and studies the therapeutic mechanisms of different active components in Polygonatum. It also assessed the limitations of studies on the target animal species, which include: an unclear dose-response relationship, as well as insufficient evaluation of safety, palatability and practical routes of administration in veterinary applications. It also summarizes the problems existing in current research, such as insufficient clinical evidence and inadequate quality control. These findings are expected to provide some ideas for subsequent research.

To Cite This Article: Xiong HJ, Li W, Zhang Q and He H, 2026. Research progress on the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with polygonatum. Pak Vet J, 46(8): 1860-1871. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.203