Research shows that Mume Flos, a natural plant extract, reduced fatty liver disease and improved memory and learning in mice by blocking harmful inflammatory signals that travel between the liver and brain. According to research reviewed by Gram, the extract suppressed IL-17/NF-κB signaling, a key communication pathway linking liver damage to cognitive problems. While these findings are promising, human studies are needed before this treatment can be recommended.
According to research reviewed by Gram, scientists discovered that a natural plant extract called Mume Flos might help protect your brain when you develop a fatty liver disease called MASLD. The study found that this plant extract reduced fat buildup in the liver and improved memory and learning in mice with the disease. Researchers believe the extract works by calming down harmful inflammation signals that travel from the liver to the brain. While these results are promising, the research was done in mice and lab cells, so scientists need to test it in humans before recommending it as a treatment. This discovery could eventually lead to new ways to help people whose thinking and memory suffer because of liver problems.
Key Statistics
A 2026 laboratory study found that Mume Flos treatment reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and improved learning and memory performance in high-fat diet-fed mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Research showed that Mume Flos suppressed IL-17/NF-κB signaling in both liver and brain tissues of mice with fatty liver disease, identifying this inflammatory pathway as a potential link between liver injury and cognitive impairment.
The study demonstrated that Mume Flos alleviated anxiety-like behavior and reduced neuroinflammation in the hippocampus while simultaneously decreasing intracellular lipid deposition in human liver cells.
In mice models of MASLD, Mume Flos treatment improved serum liver enzyme levels and suppressed systemic inflammatory cytokine production, suggesting broad anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a natural plant extract called Mume Flos could help fix both liver damage and brain problems caused by eating too much fatty food
- Who participated: Mice fed a high-fat diet to mimic fatty liver disease, plus human liver cells grown in a laboratory
- Key finding: Mume Flos reduced fat in the liver, improved memory and learning in sick mice, and calmed down harmful inflammation in the brain by blocking specific inflammatory signals
- What it means for you: This research suggests a natural plant extract might one day help people whose thinking and memory get worse because of fatty liver disease, but human studies are needed before doctors can recommend it
The Research Details
Researchers used two different approaches to test Mume Flos. First, they fed mice a high-fat diet to create fatty liver disease similar to what happens in humans, then gave some mice the plant extract to see if it helped. Second, they grew human liver cells in dishes and exposed them to excess fat, then treated some cells with the extract. They measured changes in liver fat, inflammation markers, and brain function like memory and anxiety levels.
The scientists also used advanced genetic testing to understand exactly how the plant extract worked at the molecular level. They looked for specific inflammatory signals called IL-17 and NF-κB that were suspected to be the communication pathway between the damaged liver and the struggling brain.
This combination of animal studies and lab cell experiments allowed researchers to test whether the extract worked and to discover the biological mechanism behind its effects.
Using both living animals and isolated cells is important because it shows the effect works at multiple levels of biology. Animal studies demonstrate real-world effects on behavior and organ function, while cell studies reveal the exact molecular switches being turned on and off. This dual approach makes the findings more convincing than either method alone.
This is a laboratory research study, which is an early stage of scientific investigation. The findings are promising but not yet proven in humans. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning other scientists reviewed it before publication. However, because it only tested mice and cells rather than people, results cannot be directly applied to human treatment yet. Human clinical trials would be the next necessary step.
What the Results Show
Mume Flos treatment significantly reduced the amount of fat stored in liver cells and improved liver function markers in the blood of mice with fatty liver disease. The treated mice showed better performance on memory and learning tests compared to untreated sick mice, and they displayed less anxiety-like behavior.
In the brain, specifically in a region called the hippocampus that controls memory, the extract reduced neuroinflammation—the harmful inflammation that damages brain cells. The researchers found that the plant extract worked by blocking two specific inflammatory signals: IL-17 and NF-κB. These signals act like a communication system that tells cells to create inflammation, and the extract essentially turned down the volume on these messages.
When researchers tested the extract on human liver cells in dishes, they saw the same pattern: less fat accumulation and reduced inflammatory markers. The genetic analysis showed that the same IL-17/NF-κB pathway was being suppressed in both liver and brain tissue.
The study found that Mume Flos reduced multiple types of inflammatory molecules in the blood and liver tissue, suggesting the extract has broad anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body. The improvement in anxiety-like behavior in mice suggests the brain benefits extended beyond just memory and learning. These secondary findings indicate the plant extract may help restore normal communication between the liver and brain.
Previous research has shown that fatty liver disease can damage the brain and cause memory problems, but the exact pathway connecting liver damage to brain dysfunction wasn’t well understood. This study identifies IL-17/NF-κB signaling as a potential link, which is a new contribution to the field. Other studies have tested various plant extracts for liver health, but this is among the first to specifically examine how a plant extract might improve both liver and brain function simultaneously through this particular inflammatory pathway.
The biggest limitation is that this research was conducted in mice and laboratory cells, not in humans. Mouse biology doesn’t always translate directly to human biology. The study doesn’t specify exactly how much Mume Flos was used or how it was administered, making it difficult to know what dose might be appropriate for humans. The research also doesn’t compare Mume Flos to other existing treatments or plant extracts. Finally, the study was relatively short-term; we don’t know if the benefits would continue over months or years of treatment in real people.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, Mume Flos cannot yet be recommended as a treatment because human studies haven’t been done. However, the findings are interesting enough to warrant further investigation in human clinical trials. If you have fatty liver disease and cognitive concerns, discuss with your doctor about participating in future clinical trials or maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, which are proven to help.
People with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) who are experiencing memory problems or cognitive decline should find this research relevant. People at risk for fatty liver disease due to obesity or poor diet may also be interested. However, this research is not yet applicable to clinical practice. People without liver disease don’t need to take action based on this study.
In the mice studied, improvements in memory and reduced inflammation appeared after the treatment period, but the exact timeline wasn’t specified in the abstract. If this plant extract ever becomes a human treatment, it would likely take months to see meaningful cognitive improvements, similar to other anti-inflammatory treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mume Flos treat fatty liver disease and brain problems?
Mume Flos showed promise in mice and lab cells by reducing liver fat and improving memory while blocking harmful inflammation signals. However, human studies haven’t been conducted yet, so it cannot be recommended as a treatment until clinical trials prove its safety and effectiveness in people.
How does fatty liver disease affect your brain and memory?
Fatty liver disease triggers inflammatory signals that travel from the liver to the brain, particularly affecting the hippocampus region responsible for memory. This inflammation can cause memory problems, difficulty learning, and anxiety. The study identified IL-17/NF-κB signaling as the communication pathway responsible for this liver-brain connection.
What is MASLD and why is it important?
MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) is fatty liver disease caused by metabolic problems like obesity and poor diet. It’s important because it doesn’t just damage the liver—it also causes inflammation that spreads throughout the body and can harm the brain, affecting thinking and memory.
When will Mume Flos be available as a treatment?
Mume Flos is not currently available as a medical treatment. Scientists must conduct human clinical trials to test safety and effectiveness before any regulatory approval. This process typically takes several years, so widespread availability would be years away at minimum.
What can I do now if I have fatty liver disease and memory problems?
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and liver health. Proven approaches include losing weight through diet and exercise, reducing alcohol consumption, and managing blood sugar and cholesterol. Your doctor may recommend cognitive testing and can monitor your liver function with blood tests.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track liver health markers (if you have access to blood test results) and cognitive function through simple memory tests or journaling about mental clarity and focus. Record dates of any cognitive assessments and liver enzyme levels from doctor visits.
- Use the app to monitor dietary fat intake and track mood/anxiety levels daily, since the study showed improvements in both liver health and anxiety. Set reminders to maintain consistent eating patterns and log any changes in memory or mental clarity.
- Create a long-term tracking dashboard that correlates diet quality, inflammation markers (from blood tests), and cognitive function scores over months. This allows you to see if lifestyle changes that support liver health also improve your thinking and memory.
This article describes laboratory research in mice and cells, not human clinical trials. Mume Flos is not an approved medical treatment and should not be used to treat fatty liver disease or cognitive problems without consulting your doctor. If you have fatty liver disease, memory problems, or cognitive concerns, speak with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet or taking supplements. This research is preliminary and cannot be applied to human treatment until human clinical trials are completed and reviewed by regulatory authorities.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.