Topic 1: Discovery of anti-fatty liver therapeutics from natural products. We utilized a phenotypic assay in HTS to identify natural products that can reduce lipid accumulation in hepatic cells. We have identified several hit plants, and the anti-fatty liver acitvity was confirmed in mouse models. The active components and their molecular mechanisms of action are currently under investigation.

Topic 2: Discovery of selective NRF2 regulators. The nuclear factor erytheroid-derived-2-like 2 (NRF2)‒Kelch-like ECH is the master regulator of redox and xenobiotic sensitive signaling that functions to protect cells against oxidative stress and environmental toxicants through the induction of cytoprotective genes. However, recent genetic analyses of human cancer revealed that NRF2 could be oncogenic and cause resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, we aimed for identification of selected NRF2 regulators that specifically suppress NRF2 function in cancer cells but not in normal cells.

Topic 3: Construction and Application of a Plant Crude Extract Mass Spectrometry Database. This research will construct a comprehensive LC-MS/MS database of plant crude extracts by standardizing extraction protocols and high-resolution spectral acquisition. It could integrate advanced data processing and molecular annotation workflows to enable rapid identification and structural elucidation of unknown phytochemicals. The platform supports bioactivity-guided screening, quality control of botanical materials, and machine learning–driven natural product discovery.