Prof. Dr. Wong Tin Wui

Professor Dr. Wong Tin Wui is a highly cited Malaysian pharmaceutical scientist specializing in particle design and advanced nanodrug delivery.

Natural Product Discovery and Delivery: Modulation of Gut-Liver Axis for Hepatic Diseases

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an inflammatory hepatic disorder associated with insulin resistance, central obesity, and metabolic syndrome which raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases and may contribute to nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer. Its global prevalence has increased to 34 % and is expected to reach 56 % by 2030. Physical exercise and diet are the primary approaches to control NAFLD development. There is a lack of approved or effective pharmacological treatment. The occurrence and development of NAFLD are complex adopting a pronounced relationship between gut dysbiosis and the NAFLD development, known as the "gut-liver" axis. A number of herbs have been reported to contain flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, and polysaccharides that could mitigate NAFLD development. This presentation highlights the pharmacological basis of Tibetan medicine in combating NAFLD. The formulation strategy of Tibetan medicine will be discussed from the perspectives of therapeutic value of excipients and their liver targeting capacity as well as precision attribute guided by omics analysis. Synergism of drug discovery and delivery sciences is envisaged to promote therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse influences which are critical for clinical applications and commercialization.