Insufficient milk supply is a widespread issue faced by women globally and associated with a higher risk of health problems in infants and mothers. Hemerocallis citrina Baron, commonly known as daylily, is a perennial edible plant often used in traditional Asian cuisine to promote lactation. However, the active compound(s) and mechanism of its lactation-promoting effect remain unclear. This study aimed to confirm the traditional use of daylily in promoting lactation and investigate its potential active components and underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that the aqueous extracts of H. citrina Baroni (HAE) significantly enhanced milk production, and the serum levels of lactation-related hormones, and promoted mammary gland development in lactating rats, as well as increased the levels of milk components in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) (p < 0.05). UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS analysis revealed that hexamethylquercetin (HQ) is the representative flavonoid component in HAE, accounting for 42.66% of the total flavonoids. An integrated network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis suggested that HQ may be the potential active flavonoid in HAE that promotes lactation, possibly supporting lactation by binding to key target proteins such as STAT5A, PIK3CA, IGF1R, TP53, CCND1, BCL2, INS, AR, and DLD. Cell experiments further demonstrated that HQ could promote cell proliferation and the synthesis of milk proteins, lactose, and milk fat in BMECs. Transcriptomic analysis combined with a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed that both HAE and HQ exert a lactation-promoting function mainly through regulating the expression of key genes in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption induces alcohol-related liver injury (ALI), characterized by oxidative stress (OS), disrupted lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Given the lack of effective pharmacological treatments, flavonoid-rich fruits have attracted growing attention as potential intervention strategies. This study investigated the independent and combined effects of extracts from Citri reticulatae pericarpium (CRPE) and Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai (CSPE), previously shown to possess hepatoprotective properties, in a mouse model of ethanol-induced chronic ALI. The flavonoid composition of CRPE and CSPE was characterized using LC-MS/MS, and their potential mechanisms of action were further elucidated through transcriptomic analysis. The results showed that CRPE and CSPE, whether administered individually or in combination, effectively alleviated alcohol-induced hepatic histological damage and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, both extracts significantly reduced OS and improved lipid metabolism. Notably, CRPE, CSPE, and their combination regulated the gut microbiota, as shown by increased abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, along with elevated levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These findings highlight that combinations of multiple fruit extracts exhibit significant potential in alleviating ALI by modulating the gut microbiota, providing valuable insights for the development of functional foods.