ReviewBeneficial effects of the Mediterranean spices and aromas on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

•NAFLD progression can worsen patients' life quality and increase health costs.•Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is a promising tool to prevent/cure NAFLD.•MedDiet also includes use of flavoring aromatic plants and spices (MAPS).•Hepatoprotective and anti-steatotic effects of MAPS are demonstrated.•NAFLD patients could be advised to follow MedDiet and include MAPS consumption.

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be regarded as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (MS), which has a high prevalence in Western-lifestyle countries. NAFLD can progress to more severe pathologies such as cirrhosis and fibrosis, thus worsening individuals' life quality and increasing health costs. In the last decades, many efforts have been made in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of NAFLD and how to cure it. It has become clear that alimentary regimen is of primary importance for preventing/treating MS and NAFLD.Scope and approachBeneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on MS and NAFLD are now recognized and can be ascribed to low calories intake but also to abundance of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds which are present in fruit and vegetables as well as in herbs and spices widely used to flavor traditional Mediterranean dishes. The aim of this review is to summarize briefly NAFLD molecular pathways and therapies, while focusing on the beneficial effects and mechanisms of action of the most used Mediterranean aromatic plants and spices (MAPS).Key findings and conclusionsAll MAPS reviewed here have been documented to exert hepatoprotective actions and almost the totality has a direct or indirect lipid-lowering effect on the liver, accompanied by amelioration of other MS parameters. We suggest that culinary MAPS use can contribute to the health benefits of MedDiet without the danger of adverse effects that can occur when the active compounds are used in pharmacological doses.