Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic fatty liver disease whose core mechanism lies in obesity-induced insulin resistance, adipose tissue dysfunction, accumulation of free fatty acids in the liver, and concomitant dysbiosis of the intestinal flora. In recent years, some of the active ingredients of food and drug homologous plants have significantly improved NAFLD. This paper focuses on food and medicine homologous plants with the ability to improve NAFLD. The active substances of food and medicine homologous active substances to improve NAFLD are mainly classified into five categories: polysaccharides, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids and others, and their sources and categories, active substances and extraction methods are summarized and analyzed for their mechanisms of action on NAFLD. It aims to provide meaningful data and references for the study and application of food and medicine homologous plants in the treatment of NAFLD.