Comparative pharmacokinetics of eight major bioactive components in normal and bacterial diarrhea mini-pigs after oral administration of Gegen Qinlian Decoction

Pharmacokinetic Properties of Baitouweng Decoction in Bama Miniature Pigs: Implications for Clinical Application in Humans

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) serves as a significant adjunct to chemical treatment for chronic diseases. For instance, the administration of Baitouweng decoction (BTWD) has proven effective in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. However, the limited understanding of its pharmacokinetics (PK) has impeded its widespread use. Chinese Bama miniature pigs possess anatomical and physiological similarities to the human body, making them a valuable model for investigating PK properties. Consequently, the identification of PK properties in Bama miniature pigs can provide valuable insights for guiding the clinical application of BTWD in humans. To facilitate this research, a rapid and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of eleven active ingredients of BTWD in plasma. Chromatographic separation was conducted using an Acquity UPLC HSS T3 C18 column and a gradient mobile phase comprising acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% acetic acid). The methodology was validated in accordance with the FDA Bioanalytical Method Validation Guidance for Industry. The lower limit of quantitation fell within the range of 0.60-2.01 ng/mL. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that coptisine chloride, berberine, columbamine, phellodendrine, and obacunone exhibited low Cmax, while fraxetin, esculin, fraxin, and pulchinenoside B4 were rapidly absorbed and eliminated from the plasma. These findings have implications for the development of effective components in BTWD and the adjustment of clinical dosage regimens.

Protective Application of Chinese Herbal Compounds and Formulae in Intestinal Inflammation in Humans and Animals

Intestinal inflammation is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with uncertain pathophysiology and causation that has significantly impacted both the physical and mental health of both people and animals. An increasing body of research has demonstrated the critical role of cellular signaling pathways in initiating and managing intestinal inflammation. This review focuses on the interactions of three cellular signaling pathways (TLR4/NF-κB, PI3K-AKT, MAPKs) with immunity and gut microbiota to explain the possible pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation. Traditional medicinal drugs frequently have drawbacks and negative side effects. This paper also summarizes the pharmacological mechanism and application of Chinese herbal compounds (Berberine, Sanguinarine, Astragalus polysaccharide, Curcumin, and Cannabinoids) and formulae (Wumei Wan, Gegen-Qinlian decoction, Banxia xiexin decoction) against intestinal inflammation. We show that the herbal compounds and formulae may influence the interactions among cell signaling pathways, immune function, and gut microbiota in humans and animals, exerting their immunomodulatory capacity and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. This demonstrates their strong potential to improve gut inflammation. We aim to promote herbal medicine and apply it to multispecies animals to achieve better health.

Tissue distribution and integrated pharmacokinetic properties of major effective constituents of oral Gegen-Qinlian decoction in mice

Gegen-Qinlian decoction (GQD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. GQD is effective against colon or liver-related diseases including ulcerative colitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes. In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed, validated, and then applied to reveal the tissue distribution and integrated pharmacokinetic properties of major effective constituents of oral GQD in mice. The established method was quick, sensitive, and accurate enough to analyze GQD constituents in plasma and tissue homogenate samples quantitatively. According to their concentrations in the portal vein, systemic circulation, liver and colon samples of the mice after oral administration of GQD, the concentration-time curves of the constituents were respectively plotted. The results showed that daidzein, baicalin, and baicalein had relatively high exposure levels in the livers, while puerarin, berberine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid were enriched in the colons. Given that these constituents have significant biological activity, they could be regarded as the major effective constituents of GQD in treating colon or liver-related diseases, respectively. In addition, the integrated pharmacokinetic properties of GQD were studied. The GQD “integrated constituent” reached peak concentration at 4.0 h in the portal vein, the systemic circulation, the livers, and the colons, with half-lives of 1.5–4.1 h and mean retention time of 4.5–6.3 h, respectively. Furthermore, the concentration of the GQD “integrated constituent” in the colons was approximately 10 times higher than that in the livers, both of which were much higher than that in the systemic circulation, indicating its accumulation in these tissues, especially in the colons. In conclusion, the tissue distribution and integrated pharmacokinetic properties of oral GQD were revealed in the study. The results of the tissue distribution study would contribute to identifying the major target tissues and effective constituents of GQD, while the results of the integrated pharmacokinetic study would help to explain the pharmacokinetic properties of oral GQD as a whole.

Gegen Qinlian decoction restores the intestinal barrier in bacterial diarrhea piglets by promoting Lactobacillus growth and inhibiting the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB pathway

Acute bacterial diarrhea is a severe global problem with a particularly high incidence rate in children. The microecology inhabiting the intestinal mucosa is the key factor leading to diarrhea. Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) is used to treat bacterial diarrhea, however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the restorative effect of GQD on the intestinal barrier from the perspective of gut microbiota. A Tibetan piglet model with bacterial diarrhea was established through orally administered Escherichia coli, and diarrheal piglets were treated with GQD for three days. After treatment, GQD significantly ameliorated the diarrheal symptoms. GQD decreased the levels of IL-6, LPS, and DAO, and increased SIgA, ZO-1, and occludin levels in intestinal mucosa, indicating the restoration of intestinal barrier. GQD modulated the microbial compositions inhabited on the intestinal mucosa, especially an increase of the Lactobacillus. Spearman analysis showed that Lactobacillus was the key genus of intestinal barrier-related bacteria. Bacterial culture in vitro validated that GQD directly promoted Lactobacillus growth and inhibited E. coli proliferation. Moreover, the expressions of TLR2, MyD88, and NF-κB in the colon decreased after GQD treatment. In conclusion, GQD may treat diarrhea and restore the intestinal mucosal barrier by facilitating Lactobacillus growth and inhibiting the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of four major flavonoids in normal and chronic gastritis rats after oral administration of different combinations of Banxia Xiexin Decoction

Chronic gastritis (CG) has become a major threat to human health. Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXXXD) has been used clinically to treat gastritis by acting on the spleen and stomach for thousands of years. Baicalin, wogonoside, liquiritin and liquiritigenin, are the main bioactive flavonoids of BXXXD. A rapid, sensitive and selective HPLC-TQ-MS/MS method was developed to simultaneously quantify the four flavonoids in rat plasma in this study. With salidroside as internal standard (IS), plasma samples were extracted and separated on a Welch HPLC XB-C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) using gradient elution. An optimized gradient of mobile phase consisted of water (containing 0.1% formic acid) (A) and methanol (B) was used. Detection was implemented in MRM mode with an electrospray negative ionization source. Comparative pharmacokinetics of four analytes in normal and CG rats after oral administration of BXXXD or its different compatibilities were firstly investigated. Results indicated that the pharmacokinetic behaviors of analytes were obviously changed in CG rats. From the comparison between the whole prescription group and the compatibility groups, it was found that the pharmacokinetic behavior of analytes also changed to some extent. The pharmacokinetic alterations of analytes might be due to the pathological conditions of CG.

GeGen QinLian decoction alleviate influenza virus infectious pneumonia through intestinal flora

Influenza in humans is often accompanied by gastroenteritis-like symptoms. GeGen QinLian decoction (GQD), a Chinese herb formula, has been widely used to treat infectious diarrhea for centuries and has the effect of restoring intestinal flora. Studies have also reported that GQD were used to treat patients with influenza. However, whether regulating the intestinal flora is one of the ways GQD treats influenza has not been confirmed. In present research, we conducted a systemic pharmacological study, and the results showed that GQD may acts through multiple targets and pathways. In influenza-infected mice, GQD treatment reduced mortality and lung inflammation. Most importantly, the mortality and lung inflammation were also reduced in influenza-infected mice that have undergone fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from GQD (FMT-GQD) treated mice. GQD treatment or FMT-GQD treatment restores the intestinal flora, resulting in an increase in Akkermansia_muciniphila, Desulfovibrio_C21_c20 and Lactobacillus_salivarius, and a decrease in Escherichia_coli. FMT-GQD treatment inhibited the NOD/RIP2/NF-κB signaling pathway in the intestine and affected the expression of downstream related inflammatory cytokines in mesenteric lymph nodes (mLNs) and serum. In addition, FMT-GQD treatment showed systemic protection by restraining the inflammatory differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells. In conclusion, our study shows that GQD can affect systemic immunity, at least in part, through the intestinal flora, thereby protect the mice against influenza virus infectious pneumonia.

Screening of differential components of Gegenqinlian decoction and their comparative pharmacokinetics in normal and pyrexia rats using UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS and UHPLC-MS/MS

UHPLC combined with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance MS metabonomic approach was employed to screen the differential components between normal rats and yeast-induced pyrexia rats after an oral administration of Gegenqinlian decoction (GQLD). Nine compounds, namely puerarin, daidzein, baicalin, wogonoside, wogonin, berberine, palmatine, jateorhizine, and coptisine, were identified as differential components in the plasma. A rapid, sensitive, selective, and accurate UHPLC-MS method was developed and fully validated for the simultaneous determination of the screened components in rat plasma after an oral administration of GQLD. The values for the limit of quantification ranged from 0.025 to 5.0 ng/mL. The inter- and intra-day precision of all analytes was ≤10.7%, with an accuracy of ≤10.5%. Good extraction recovery and matrix effects were also obtained. The method was successfully applied to a comparative pharmacokinetic study of GQLD in normal and pyrexia rats. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic behavior of the analytes was changed in pyrexia rats compared to normal rats. These results could provide beneficial guidance for clinical applications of GQLD.

Constituents, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacology of Gegen-Qinlian Decoction

Gegen-Qinlian decoction (GQD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. It is composed of four TCMs, including Puerariae Lobatae Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle. GQD is traditionally and clinically used to treat both the "external and internal symptoms" of diarrhea with fever. In this review, key words related to GQD were searched in the Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and other databases. Literature published mainly from 2000 to 2020 was screened and summarized. The main constituents of GQD could be classified into eight groups according to their structures: flavonoid C-glycosides, flavonoid O-glucuronides, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, free flavonoids, flavonoid O-glycosides, coumarins, triterpenoid saponins, and others. The parent constituents of GQD that enter circulation mainly include puerarin and daidzein from Puerariae Lobatae Radix, baicalin and wogonoside from Scutellariae Radix, berberine and magnoflorine from Coptidis Rhizoma, as well as glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizic acid from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle. GQD is effective against inflammatory intestinal diseases, including diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, and intestinal adverse reactions caused by chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, GQD has significant effects on metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, GQD can be used to treat lung injury. In brief, the main constituents, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological profiles of GQD were summarized in this review. In addition, several issues of GQD including effective constituents, interactions between the constituents, pharmacokinetics, interaction potential with drugs and pharmacological effects were discussed, and related future researches were prospected in this review.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling analysis and anti-inflammatory effect of Wangbi capsule in the treatment of adjuvant-induced arthritis

Clinically, Wangbi Capsule (WBC) is widely used in the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of its remarkable therapeutic effect. To reveal the mechanism, a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model was developed for the first time to assess the relationship between time-concentration (dose)-effect. Freund's Complete Adjuvant was used to induce the adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Multi-indices were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect and an S-I_max PK-PD model was established based on the concentrations of osthole, 5-O-methylvisamminoside, cimifugin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin and icariin and the levels of interleukin-1β and prostaglandin E₂ using a two-compartment PK model together with a PD model with an effect-site compartment. The results suggest that WBC can treat RA by regulating the levels of prostaglandin E₂ and interleukin-1β. For the PK-PD model, the parameters indicated that WBC had a large safety margin and all six bioactive ingredients of WBC have therapeutic effects on RA. Among them icariin, osthole and 5-O-methylvisamminoside may be the main effective substances. This study provided a scientific basis for further study of population pharmacokinetics / population pharmacodynamics (PPK/PPD), to develop a reasonable administration plan and improve individualized drug therapy.

Pharmacokinetics and drug delivery systems for puerarin, a bioactive flavone from traditional Chinese medicine

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi is a medicinal and edible homologous plant with a long history in China. Puerarin, the main component isolated from the root of Pueraria lobata, possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties. Daidzein and glucuronides are the main metabolites of puerarin and are excreted in the urine and feces. As active substrates of P-gp, multidrug resistance-associated protein and multiple metabolic enzymes, the pharmacokinetics of puerarin can be influenced by different pathological conditions and drug-drug interactions. Due to the poor water-solubility and liposolubility, the applications of puerarin are limited. So far, only puerarin injections and eye drops are on the market. Recent years, researches on improving the bioavailability of puerarin are developing rapidly, various nanotechnologies and preparation technologies including microemulsions and SMEDDS, dendrimers, nanoparticles and nanocrystals have been researched to improve the bioavailability of puerarin. In order to achieve biocompatibility and desired activity, more effective quality evaluations of nanocarriers are required. In this review, we summarize the pharmacokinetics and drug delivery systems of puerarin up to date.

Gegen Qinlian Decoction Ameliorates Hepatic Insulin Resistance by Silent Information Regulator1 (SIRT1)-Dependent Deacetylation of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1)

Background

Gegen qinlian decoction (GGQLD) is a form of traditional Chinese medicine used for hundreds of years for its efficacy in treating diabetes. However, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of GGQLD on diabetes are still not clear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of GGQLD on hepatic insulin resistance (IR) through silent information regulator1 (SIRT1)/forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in an IR mouse model.

Material/Methods

A high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model was established and GGQLD was administrated by oral gavage. Metabolic parameters were detected, including body weights, triglyceride, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR index, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. HE-stained sections were used to observe the histopathology of liver tissue. For in vitro study, GGQLD-medicated serum was used to treat palmitic acid-stimulated HepG2 cells. The glycogen synthesis and downstream SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling pathways were examined. Specific siRNAs were used to knock down SIRT1 in HepG2 cells.

Results

GGQLD administration significantly decreased body weights, triglyceride level, fasting glucose level, fasting insulin level, and HOMA-IR index, and improved IR in HFD mice. GGQLD enhanced SIRT1 expression and suppressed the expression of Ac-FOXO1 in liver tissues. Further, GGQLD-medicated serum promoted SIRT1 upregulation and suppressed Ac-FOXO1 levels in palmitate-stimulated HepG2 cells. GGQLD-medicated serum also increased the protein expression of PPARγ and reduced the expression of FABP4 in palmitate-stimulated HepG2 cells.

Conclusions

We found that GGQLD alleviates insulin resistance through SIRT1-dependent deacetylation of FOXO1.

Pharmacokinetics of B-Ring Unsubstituted Flavones

B-ring unsubstituted flavones (of which the most widely known are chrysin, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A) are 2-phenylchromen-4-one molecules of which the B-ring is devoid of any hydroxy, methoxy, or other substituent. They may be found naturally in a number of herbal products used for therapeutic purposes, and several have been designed by researchers and obtained in the laboratory. They have generated interest in the scientific community for their potential use in a variety of pathologies, and understanding their pharmacokinetics is important for a grasp of their optimal use. Based on a comprehensive survey of the relevant literature, this paper examines their absorption (with deglycosylation as a preliminary step) and their fate in the body, from metabolism to excretion. Differences among species (inter-individual) and within the same species (intra-individual) variability have been examined based on the available data, and finally, knowledge gaps and directions of future research are discussed.

Neuroprotective Effects of Red Ginseng Saponins in Scopolamine-Treated Rats and Activity Screening Based on Pharmacokinetics

Ginseng has been used to alleviate age-related dementia and memory deterioration for thousands of years. This study investigated the protective effect of red ginseng saponins against scopolamine-induced cerebral injury. Meanwhile, pharmacokinetics of ginsenosides in normal and scopolamine-treated rats were compared. After scopolamine injection, glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly decreased when compared with control group. Compared with SA group, pretreatment of rats with red ginseng saponins could increase glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase level. Treatment with red ginseng saponins significantly decreased malondialdehyde level. In the pharmacokinetic analysis, a pattern recognition analysis method was used to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the absorbed compounds in blood. The pharmacokinetic parameters of Rg1, Rg2, Rh3, Rg5 and Rk1 in model group had higher area under the curve (AUC), mean residence time (MRT) and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) values; area under the curve (AUC) values and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of model group was significantly different from that of normal group (p < 0.05). The Cmax value of Rk3, Rh1, Rh2 and Rh4 in model group was higher than normal group, but their AUC values were not significantly different. There was no significantly difference in time at Cmax (Tmax), AUC and Cmax values of Rb1, Rb2 Re, Rc, Rd and Rf between the model and normal group. 16 ginsenosides were grouped into three separate clusters according to principal component analysis (PCA) score plot based on pharmacokinetic data. The results suggested red ginseng saponins have significant protective effect against scopolamine-induced memory deficit and scopolamine-induced rats could lead to the changes of pharmacokinetic behaviors of ginsenosides.

Effect of Puerarin, Baicalin and Berberine Hydrochloride on the Regulation of IPEC-J2 Cells Infected with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Puerarin, baicalin and berberine hydrochloride are the main components of Gegen Qinlian Decoction, which has been used to treat diarrhoea in China for hundreds of years, yet the biological function and molecular mechanism of these components are not clear. To investigate the effects of puerarin, baicalin, and berberine hydrochloride on the regulation of porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2 cells) infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). IPEC-J2 cells were pretreated with puerarin (200 μg/mL), baicalin (1 μg/mL), and berberine hydrochloride (100 μg/mL) at 37°C for 3 h and then coincubated with the F4ac ETEC bacterial strain 200 at 37°C for 3 h. ETEC infection damaged the structure of IPEC-J2 cells, upregulated mucin 4 (P < 0.01) and mucin 13 mRNA (P < 0.05) expression, increased the apoptosis rate (P < 0.05), and promoted inflammatory responses (IL-6 and CXCL-2 mRNA expression) in IPEC-J2 cells by activating the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Pretreatment with puerarin, baicalin, and berberine hydrochloride improved the structure and morphology of IPEC-J2 cells and inhibited ETEC adhesion by downregulating specific adhesion molecules. Pretreatment with baicalin decreased the inflammatory response; pretreatment with baicalin and berberine hydrochloride decreased the inflammatory response mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway. Pretreatment with puerarin, baicalin, and berberine hydrochloride protected IPEC-J2 cells from ETEC infection by inhibiting bacterial adhesion and inflammatory responses.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of six coumarins in normal and breast cancer bone-metastatic mice after oral administration of Wenshen Zhuanggu Formula

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Wenshen Zhuanggu Formula (WSZG) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used in clinics for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer bone metastases in Longhua Hospital in China. WSZG has been reported to decrease the risk of bone metastases and alleviate the severity of bone lesions in a breast cancer xenograft model.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed at investigating the pharmacokinetic behaviors of six coumarins in normal and breast cancer bone-metastatic mice following oral administration of WSZG extract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A bone-metastatic mouse model was established by intracardiac injection of MDA-MB-231BO breast cancer cells, and WSZG extract (1.60 g/kg) was given orally to the model and normal mice for 4 weeks. Then, the blood pharmacokinetic parameters of six bioactive components from WSZG (psoralen, isopsoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin, osthole, and imperatorin) were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in pharmacokinetic behaviors between normal and pathological states. Compared with normal mice, the model mice showed significantly increased AUC_0-t and AUC_0-∞ of the bioactive compounds (P < 0.05) and significantly decreased total blood clearance (CL_Z/F) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The different pharmacokinetic behaviors might be partly ascribed to intestinal functional disorders and imbalance of gastrointestinal microbiota under the morbid state. The findings provide some valuable information to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of this TCM formula.

Intestinal absorption differences of major bioactive compounds of Gegenqinlian Decoction between normal and bacterial diarrheal mini-pigs in vitro and in situ

Intestinal condition plays an important role in drug absorption and metabolism, thus the effects of varied gastrointestinal diseases such as infectious diarrhea on the intestinal function are crucial for drug absorption. However, due to the lack of suitable models, the differences of absorption and metabolism of drugs between the diarrheal and normal intestines are rarely reported. Thus, in this study, Escherichia coli diarrhea model was induced in mini-pigs and single-pass intestinal perfusion and intestinal mucosal enzyme metabolism experiments were conducted. A simple and rapid ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine the concentrations of 9 major components in Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD). Samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with methanol and naringin and prednisolone were used as internal standards. The validated method demonstrated adequate sensitivity, selectivity, and process efficiency for the bioanalysis of 9 compounds. Results of intestinal perfusion showed that puerarin, daidzein, daidzin and baicalin and berberine were absorbed faster in diarrheal jejunum than in normal intestines (p < 0.05). However, puerarin, daidzin and liquiritin were metabolized more slowly in diarrheal intestine after incubation compared with the normal group (p < 0.05). The concentrations of daidzein in both perfusion and metabolism and wogonin in metabolism were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, absorption and metabolism of GQD were significantly different between the diarrheal and normal intestines, which suggest that bacterial diarrheal mini-pigs model can be used in the intestinal absorption study and is worthy to be applied in the other intestinal absorption study of anti- diarrheal drugs.

Targeting Sirt1 in a rat model of high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Comparison of Gegen Qinlian decoction and resveratrol

The present study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GGQLD) in experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A total of 30 rats were randomly divided into five groups: The chow, model, high- and low-dose GGQLD (GGQLD-H and GGQLD-L, respectively) and resveratrol (Resl) groups, and were treated with saline, GGQLD and Resl when a model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD was established. Blood lipid and liver enzymes were detected following treatment for 8 weeks and liver tissue pathology was observed using Oil Red O and haematoxylin and eosin staining. Furthermore, the liver protein and mRNA expression of sirtuin (Sirt)1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator (PGC)-1α and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) were measured using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Compared with the chow group, the model group demonstrated significantly increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (P<0.01). GGQLD doses and Resl attenuated the elevated serum ALT and AST levels. GGQLD-H and Resl significantly increased the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level compared with that in the model group (P<0.01), while GGQLD-L and Resl significantly decreased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P<0.01). The GGQLDs and Resl groups revealed an evident improvement in Sirt1 protein and mRNA expression. Although GGQLD and Resl significantly decreased NF-κB gene expression compared with the model group (P<0.01), the effect on NF-κB protein expression was not significant. Furthermore, the PGC-1α gene and protein expression in the HFD rat group slightly decreased compared to the levels in the chow group, but the decrease was insignificant. However, an evident increase in PGC-1α mRNA expression was observed in the GGQLD-H group compared with the model group (P<0.01). Histological staining revealed that GGQLD and Resl decreased the lipid droplets in hepatocytes and normalized steatosis in rats fed with a HFD. The results indicated that GGQLD treatment may be a potent strategy for managing NAFLD by managing lipid metabolism and inflammatory and histological abnormalities by triggering the Sirt1 pathway.