For instance, metabolite formulas like Zexie-Baizhu Decoction and Xiaozhi formula synergistically activate key signaling pathways, including AMPK/SREBP-1c and AMPK/mTOR, effectively reducing hepatic fat accumulation and insulin resistance (Cao et al., 2022; You et al., 2024; Luo et al., 2025; Liu W. et al., 2022). Here, MTOR is linked to Insulin resistance.