Congratulations to Wan Li for the new publication

01.10.2025

The Weckwerth lab has discovered that hesperetin—a natural compound in citrus fruits—can help protect our cells from damage caused by too much fat, especially in the liver.

It works by calming down a key cell pathway called mTORC1, which is often overactive in people with fatty liver disease. By doing this, hesperetin helps cells clean themselves up and survive better. This research suggests that hesperetin could be used as supplement to prevent or improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and related diseases like metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, further studies are necessary to study in vivo effects.

Hesperetin Protects from Palmitic-Acid-Induced Lipotoxicity through the Inhibition of Glutaminolysis, mTORC1 Signaling, and Limited Apoptosis