Liver diseases account for approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide, one million due to complications of cirrhosis and one million due to viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Among them, cirrhosis is currently the 11th most common cause of death globally and liver cancer is the 16th leading cause of death; combined, they account for 3.5% of all deaths worldwide[1]. The most common liver diseases include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, metabolic liver diseases, and cholestatic liver diseases. Given the lack of traditional chemical treatment options, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies to combat liver disease.
