From Liver to Brain: Cross-Talk Between Hepatoprotection and Neuromodulation in Environmental Toxicity and Metabolic Disorders

Mukamana Sandra Gisele

 

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The liver-brain axis represents a complex and dynamic interface where hepatic metabolic processes influence central nervous system (CNS) function, and conversely, neural and neuroendocrine signals modulate liver physiology. This bidirectional communication is particularly relevant in the context of environmental toxicant exposure and metabolic disorders, including diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which collectively increase the burden of oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. Environmental toxicants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and persistent organic pollutants can impair hepatic detoxification and antioxidant defenses, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive metabolites, and neurotoxic intermediates into circulation, which adversely affect brain function. Simultaneously, neuroinflammation, altered autonomic signaling, and metabolic disturbances in the CNS can exacerbate liver injury, creating a feed-forward loop of organ cross-talk. Recent evidence highlights the potential of hepatoprotective and neuromodulatory interventions, including natural bioactive compounds, to restore redox balance, reduce inflammation, enhance detoxification pathways, and support neuronal resilience. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying liver-brain communication is critical for developing integrated therapeutic strategies that concurrently protect hepatic and neural health, mitigate environmental toxicant-induced damage, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative outcomes in populations with metabolic disorders.

Keywords: Liver-brain axis, environmental toxins, neuroinflammation, metabolic disorders, hepatoprotection

CITE AS: Mukamana Sandra Gisele. (2026). From Liver to Brain: Cross-Talk Between Hepatoprotection and Neuromodulation in Environmental Toxicity and Metabolic Disorders. IDOSR JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY 11(1):57-61. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JBCP/26/102.5761