Prevention of Nonalcoholic Hepatic Steatosis by Shenling Baizhu Powder: Involvement of Adiponectin-Induced Inhibition of Hepatic SREBP-1c

Shenling Baizhu powder alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating autophagy and energy metabolism in high-fat diet-induced rats

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a burgeoning health problem worldwide, but no specific drug has been approved for its treatment. Shenling Baizhu powder (SL) is extensively used to treat NAFLD in Chinese clinical practice. However, the therapeutic components and pharmacological mechanisms of SL against NAFLD have not been thoroughly investigated.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological impact and molecular mechanism of SL on NAFLD.

METHODS

First, we established an animal model of NAFLD by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, and evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of SL on NAFLD by physiological, biochemical, pathological, and body composition analysis. Next, the effect of SL on autophagic flow in NAFLD rats was evaluated by ultrastructure, immunofluorescence staining, and western blotting. Moreover, an integrated strategy of targeted energy metabolomics and network pharmacology was performed to characterize autophagy-related genes and explore the synergistic effects of SL active compounds. UPLC-MS/MS, molecular docking combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to verify the key compounds and genes. Finally, a network was established among SL-herb-compound-genes-energy metabolites-NAFLD, which explains the complicated regulating mechanism of SL on NAFLD.

RESULTS

We discovered that SL decreased hepatic lipid accumulation, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance, and improved systemic metabolic disorders and pathological abnormalities. Subsequently, an integrated strategy of targeted energy metabolomics and network pharmacology identified quercetin, ellagic acid, kaempferol, formononetin, stigmasterol, isorhamnetin and luteolin as key compounds; catalase (CAT), AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), nitric oxide synthase 3 (eNOS), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α) were identified as key genes; while nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and succinate emerged as key energy metabolites. Mechanistically, we revealed that SL may exert its anti-NAFLD effect by inducing autophagy activation and forming a comprehensive regulatory network involving key compounds, key genes, and key energy metabolites, ultimately alleviating oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the therapeutic effect of SL in NAFLD models, and establishes a basis for the development of potential products from SL plant materials for the treatment of NAFLD.

Yanggan Jiangmei Formula alleviates hepatic inflammation and lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway

The role of NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome in the chronic inflammatory microenvironment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been posited as crucial. The Yanggan Jiangmei Formula (YGJMF) has shown promise in ameliorating hepatic steatosis in NASH patients, yet its pharmacological mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of YGJMF in NASH and to elucidate its pharmacological underpinnings. To simulate NASH both in vivo and in vitro, high-fat-diet (HFD) rats and HepG2 cells stimulated with free fatty acids (FFAs) were utilized. The severity of liver injury and lipid deposition was assessed using serum indicators, histopathological staining, micro-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (SIRL/M). Furthermore, a combination of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blotting analyses was employed to investigate the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and associated cytokine levels. The results from liver pathology, MRI assessments, and biochemical tests in rat models demonstrated YGJMF's significant effectiveness in reducing liver damage and lipid accumulation. Additionally, YGJMF markedly reduced hepatocyte inflammation by downregulating inflammatory cytokines in both liver tissue and serum. Furthermore, YGJMF was found to disrupt NF-κB activation, consequently inhibiting the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome in both the in vitro and in vivo models. The preliminary findings of this study suggest that YGJMF may alleviate hepatic steatosis and inhibit the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects in NASH.

Effects of plant natural products on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and the underlying mechanisms: a narrative review with a focus on the modulation of the gut microbiota

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat in hepatocytes. However, due to the complex pathogenesis of MAFLD, there are no officially approved drugs for treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safe and effective anti-MAFLD drugs. Recently, the relationship between the gut microbiota and MAFLD has been widely recognized, and treating MAFLD by regulating the gut microbiota may be a new therapeutic strategy. Natural products, especially plant natural products, have attracted much attention in the treatment of MAFLD due to their multiple targets and pathways and few side effects. Moreover, the structure and function of the gut microbiota can be influenced by exposure to plant natural products. However, the effects of plant natural products on MAFLD through targeting of the gut microbiota and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Based on the above information and to address the potential therapeutic role of plant natural products in MAFLD, we systematically summarize the effects and mechanisms of action of plant natural products in the prevention and treatment of MAFLD through targeting of the gut microbiota. This narrative review provides feasible ideas for further exploration of safer and more effective natural drugs for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD.

Lipidomics reveals serum lipid metabolism disorders in CTD-induced liver injury

BACKGROUND

Cantharidin (CTD), the main toxic component of Mylabris, has been extensively used for tumor treatment in recent years. CTD-induced liver toxicity has attracted significant interest in clinic.

METHODS

In this study, biochemical parameters and liver pathological changes were analyzed after CTD was administered to mice by gavage. Subsequently, a lipidomic approach was used to investigate serum lipid metabolism disorders, and the mechanism underlying CTD-induced liver injury in mice was explored.

RESULTS

The results showed that the levels of TC and LDL-C were significantly increased after CTD intervention. Besides, pathological results showed inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocyte necrosis in the liver. Furthermore, lipidomics found that a total of 18 lipid metabolites were increased and 40 were decreased, including LPC(20:4), LPC(20:3), PC(22:6e/2:0), PE(14:0e/21:2), PC(18:2e/22:6), glycerophospholipids, CE(16:0), CE(18:0) Cholesterol esters and TAG(12:0/12:0/22:3), TAG(16:1/16:2/20:4), TAG(18:1/18:1/20:0), TAG(16:2/18:2/18:2), TAG(18:0/18:0/20:0), TAG(13:1/19:0/19:0) glycerolipids. Metabolic pathway analysis found that glycerophospholipid, glycerol ester and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored biosynthetic metabolic pathways were dysregulated and the increase in PE caused by glycophoric metabololism and GPI may be the source of lipid metabolism disorders caused by CTD. Overall, the present study provided new insights into the mechanism of CTD-induced liver injury and increased drug safety during clinical application.

JianPi-QingHua formula attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating the AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB pathway in high-fat-diet-fed C57BL/6 mice

CONTEXT

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease, accompanied by liver lipid accumulation and inflammation. JianPi-QingHua formula (JPQH), a Chinese herbal formula, exhibits effects on obesity and T2DM. However, the hepatoprotective effect of JPQH has not been elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of JPQH in NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups and fed a normal-fat diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + JPQH (2.5 g/kg), or HFD + metformin (300 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, respectively. Furthermore, the body weight, epididymal fat mass, blood glucose, and liver weight were measured. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were performed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Oil Red O staining were observed in hepatic histopathological changes. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were utilized to assess the key protein expression of hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation.

RESULTS

Compared with the HFD group, JPQH could reduce body weight, epididymal fat mass, blood glucose and liver weight (p < 0.05), and markedly decreased the levels of serum TC, TG, ALT, AST (p < 0.05). Additionally, JPQH improved liver pathological changes. Consistent with the hepatic histological analysis, JPQH intervention suppressed lipid accumulation and inflammatory responses. Mechanistically, JPQH boosted SIRT1/AMPK signalling, and attenuated NF-κB pathway, which suppressed inflammatory responses.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that JPQH supplementation protected against HFD-induced NAFLD by regulating SIRT1/AMPK/NF-κB pathway, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of patients with NAFLD.

Effects of Shenling Baizhu powder on intestinal microflora metabolites and liver mitochondrial energy metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver mice

Background & purpose

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterised by the excessive accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. Shenling Baizhu powder (SLBZP) is formulated from various natural medicinal plants that protect the liver and are used to treat intestinal diseases. SLBZP improves the symptoms of NAFLD. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the ameliorative effect of SLBZP on model mice with high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of SLBZP on the intestinal flora and its metabolites and mitochondrial energy metabolism in NAFLD.

Methods

We used HFD to establish a mouse model of NAFLD. Different drug interventions were administered. We measured serum biochemical indices. Liver sections were visualised with hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing technology was used to analyse the diversity and abundance of the intestinal flora. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intestinal contents were detected using GC-MS. Liver tissue was sampled to detect mitochondrial membrane functional indices. Western blotting was used to determine the levels of mitochondrial pathway-related proteins, namely, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) of F1Fo ATP synthesis/hydrolase, in the liver.

Results

The spleen-invigorating classic recipe of SLBZP reduced liver lipid deposition in mice with HFD-induced NAFLD. Additionally, SCFAs produced by intestinal flora metabolism regulated the UCP2/AMPK/IF1 signalling pathway involved in liver mitochondrial energy metabolism to improve the liver mitochondrial membrane permeability, respiratory state and oxidative phosphorylation efficiency of mice with NAFLD. Finally, SLBZP increased the liver ATP level.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the therapeutic effect of SLBZP on NAFLD is related to the regulation of hepatic mitochondrial energy metabolism by intestinal flora and its metabolites and is possibly associated with the UCP2/AMPK/IF1 signalling pathway.

Prevention of polycystic ovary syndrome and postmenopausal osteoporosis by inhibiting apoptosis with Shenling Baizhu powder compound

Objective

Shenling Baizhu powder (SBP) has been shown to reverse the abnormal expression of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediated by air pollution. Our study aimed to understand the main ingredient of SBP and investigate its action mechanism in preventing polycystic ovary syndrome (POCS) and postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO).

Methods

The active ingredients of SBP with the highest binding affinity to AHR were screened using a Chinese medicine database, and their binding mechanism was simulated using molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). Rutin was utilized to treat ovarian granulosa cell lines and osteoblast cell lines. The cell lines were treated with a gradient of rutin concentration (0.01 mmol/L, 0.05 mmol/L and 0.1 mmol/L) to find the optimal drug dose. PCR was used to detect AHR and apoptosis-related proteins, and WB to detect the expression of AHR, caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-3. Finally, the CCK-8 cell proliferation assay detected the proliferation of cells.

Results

We obtained Rutin through the Chinese medicine database, and dynamics simulation determined its binding sites. Ovarian granulosa cell lines and osteoblast cell lines were treated with Rutin. RT-PCR and western blotting revealed that the expression of apoptosis-associated protein Bcl-2 was elevated, and the expression of AHR, Bax, caspase-3 and PARP were decreased. CCK-8 results showed accelerated proliferation in both cell types.

Conclusion

Rutin, the main ingredient of SBP compound, works by binding to AHR, which can improve POCS and PMO by inhibiting cell apoptosis and by promoting cell proliferation.

High fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and tissue steatosis in rabbits through modulating ileal microbiota

High-fat diet (HFD) and overnutrition are important starting factors that may alter intestinal microbiota, lipid metabolism, and systemic inflammation. However, there were few studies on how intestinal microbiota contributes to tissue steatosis and hyperlipidemia. Here, we investigated the effect of lipid metabolism disorder-induced inflammation via toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways at the intestinal level in response to HFD. Twenty 80-day-old male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into the normal diet group (NDG) and the high-fat diet group (HDG) for 80 days. Growth performance, blood biochemical parameters, lipid metabolism, inflammation, degree of tissue steatosis, and intestinal microbial composition were measured. HFD increased the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R_7_group, Marvinbryantia, Akkermansia etc., with a reduced relative abundance of Enterorhabdus and Lactobacillus. Moreover, HFD caused steatosis in the liver and abdominal fat and abnormal expression of some genes related to lipid metabolism and tight junction proteins. The TLR-2, TLR-4, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 were confirmed by overexpression with downregulation of IL-10. Serum biochemical indices (TG, TCHO, LDL-C, and HDL-C) were also increased, indicating evidence for the development of the hyperlipidemia model. Correlation analysis showed that this microbial dysbiosis was correlated with lipid metabolism and inflammation, which were associated with the intestinal tract's barrier function and hyperlipidemia. These results provide an insight into the relationship between HFD, the intestinal microbiota, intestinal barrier, tissue inflammation, lipid metabolism, and hyperlipidemia. KEY POINTS: • High-fat diet leads to ileal microbiota disorders • Ileal microbiota mediates local and systemic lipid metabolism disorders and inflammation • There is a specific link between ileal microbiota, histopathology, and hyperlipidemia.

Multi-Omics Integration Analysis Identifies Lipid Disorder of a Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Mouse Model Improved by Zexie–Baizhu Decoction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly epidemic metabolic disease with complex pathogenesis. Multi-target therapy may be an effective strategy for NAFLD treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characterized by multi-ingredients and multi-targets has unique advantages in long-term clinical practice. Zexie–Baizhu (ZXBZ) decoction is a Chinese classical formula to treat body fluid disorders initially. Although many bioactive monomers from Zexie and Baizhu had been discovered to improve lipid disorders, limited research studies were focused on the aqueous decoction of ZXBZ, the original clinical formulation. In the current study, we identified 94% chemical composition of ZXBZ decoction and first discovered its hepaprotective effect in a gubra-amylin NASH (GAN) diet-induced NAFLD mouse model. Based on metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, we speculated that lipid and glucose metabolisms might be regulated by ZXBZ decoction, which was further confirmed by improved dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in ZXBZ groups. Consistently with cross-omics analysis, we discovered ZXBZ decoction could influence two energy sensors, Sirt1 and AMPK, and subsequently affect related proteins involved in lipid biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport. In conclusion, ZXBZ decoction regulated energy sensors, consequently impeded lipogenesis, and promoted fatty acid oxidation (FAO) to alleviate lipid disorders and protect the liver in NAFLD models, which suggested ZXBZ decoction might be a promising treatment for NAFLD.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of NAFLD: a promising drug Potentilla discolor Bunge

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of hepatic lipids and metabolic stress-induced liver injury. There are currently no approved effective pharmacological treatments for NAFLD. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat patients with chronic liver diseases without clear disease types and mechanisms. More recently, TCM has been shown to have unique advantages in the treatment of NAFLD. We performed a systematic review of the medical literature published over the last two decades and found that many TCM formulas have been reported to be beneficial for the treatment of metabolic dysfunctions, including Potentilla discolor Bunge (PDB). PDB has a variety of active compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, organic acids, steroids and tannins. Many compounds have been shown to exhibit a series of beneficial effects for the treatment of NAFLD, including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions, improvement of lipid metabolism and reversal of insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic effects of TCM formulas for the treatment of NAFLD, focusing on the medicinal properties of natural active compounds from PDB and their underlying mechanisms. We point out that PDB can be classified as a novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of NAFLD.

Triglyceride: A mediator of the association between waist-to-height ratio and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A second analysis of a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Increasing evidence suggests that an increased waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) may increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Whether this association is due to WHtR itself or mediated by WHtR-associated increases in triglyceride (TG) is uncertain. On that account, our research aims to disentangle these relationships.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 14251 participants who participated in the medical examination program were consecutively and non-selectively collected in Murakami Memorial Hospital in Japan from 2004 to 2015. The independent and dependent variables were WHtR and NAFLD, respectively. Triglyceride was the mediating factor. The correlation between WHtR, TG, and NAFLD risk factors was examined using spearman correlation analysis. The association between WHtR or TG and NAFLD was examined using multiple logistic regression. In order to determine whether TG mediated the association between WHtR and NAFLD, a mediation analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The mean age of the included individuals was 43.53 ± 8.89 years old, and 7411 (52.00%) were male. The mean WHtR and TG were 0.46 ± 0.05, 0.89 ± 0.63, respectively. The prevalence rate of NAFLD was 2507 (17.59%). Individuals with NAFLD had significantly higher levels of WHtR and TG than those without NAFLD (P&lt;0.05). After adjusting covariates, the multivariate linear regression analysis showed that WHtR was positively associated with TG. That was, for every 0.1 increase in WHtR, TG increased by 0.226mmol/L (β=0.226, 95%CI: 0.206, 0.247). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that WHtR (OR=8.743, 95%CI: 7.528, 10.153) and TG (OR=1.897, 95%CI: 1.732, 2.078) were positively associated with NAFLD. The mediation analysis showed that WHtR had a direct, significant effect on NAFLD (β=0.139, 95%CI: 0.126, 0.148), and TG partially mediated the indirect effect of WHtR on NAFLD (β=0.016, 95% CI: 0.013-0.019). TG contributed to 10.41% of WHtR-related NAFLD development.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest a mediation link between WHtR and TG and the risk of NAFLD. The significance of TG as a mediator deserves recognition and consideration.

The effect of Chinese herbal formulas combined with metformin on modulating the gut microbiota in the amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To assess and analyse the effectiveness and safety of combined Chinese herbal formula (CHF) and metformin treatment in the modulation of the gut microbiota in the amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), all publications addressing the effect of this combination treatment on the quantitative alterations in the gut microbiota and glucose parameters were collected. Rob tool in the Cochrane handbook was performed to evaluate the methodological quality of all included studies. Relevant information and statistics were abstracted and synthesized in Review Manager 5.4 to evaluate the efficacy of combination treatment. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were used to analyse the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias analyses were performed by Stata software to assess the robustness and quality of the outcomes. As a result, a total of 12 eligible RCTs with 1307 T2DM participants from 7 electronic databases were included. Combined CHF with metformin treatment showed better efficacies than metformin monotherapy in regulating the structure of the gut microbiota, characterized by increased Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bacteroidetes and decreased Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Saccharomyces along with better decreases in glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Subgroup analyses further analysed the effect of metformin doses and CHF classifications on controlling hyperglycaemia and altering the gut microbiota. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggested that combined CHF with metformin treatment is promising for the modulation of the gut microbiota along with ameliorating hyperglycemia in T2DM patients. Importantly, more well-designed RCTs are needed to validate the outcomes and verify the treatment value for clinical purposes.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021291524, identifier CRD42021291524.

Design of Hepatic Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Natural Products: Insights into Nomenclature Revision of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), affects a quarter of the worldwide population. Natural products have been extensively utilized in treating NAFLD because of their distinctive advantages over chemotherapeutic drugs, despite the fact that there are no approved drugs for therapy. Notably, the limitations of many natural products, such as poor water solubility, low bioavailability in vivo, low hepatic distribution, and lack of targeted effects, have severely restricted their clinical application. These issues could be resolved via hepatic targeted drug delivery systems (HTDDS) that boost clinical efficacy in treating NAFLD and decrease the adverse effects on other organs. Herein an overview of natural products comprising formulas, single medicinal plants, and their crude extracts has been presented to treat NAFLD. Also, the clinical efficacy and molecular mechanism of active monomer compounds against NAFLD are systematically discussed. The targeted delivery of natural products via HTDDS has been explored to provide a different nanotechnology-based NAFLD treatment strategy and to make suggestions for natural-product-based targeted nanocarrier design. Finally, the challenges and opportunities put forth by the nomenclature update of NAFLD are outlined along with insights into how to improve the NAFLD therapy and how to design more rigorous nanocarriers for the HTDDS. In brief, we summarize the up-to-date developments of the NAFLD-HTDDS based on natural products and provide viewpoints for the establishment of more stringent anti-NAFLD natural-product-targeted nanoformulations.

The combined impact of decabromodiphenyl ether and high fat exposure on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in vivo and in vitro

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a public health concern. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and high fat (HF) exposure cause liver injury, yet the combined impact on NAFLD development remains unclear. HepG2 cells were incubated with BDE-209 or/and HF reagent (C_{sodium oleate}/C_{sodium palmitate} = 2/1) for establishing the in vitro model, while C57BL/6 mice fed BDE-209 or/and HF diet (HFD) was the in vivo model. Oil Red O staining and the determination of triglyceride, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents proved the elevated lipid accumulation and oxidative stress by the mixture of BDE-209 and HF in HepG2 cells, consistent in C57BL/6 mice. Importantly, the action analysis showed the synergistic effect between BDE-209 and HF, suggesting that the population preferring the HFD is more susceptible to BDE-209 to aggravate the progression of NAFLD. Further, the increased protein expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 was considered to be responsible for hepatic steatosis. The impairment of antioxidant system was reflected by the lower hepatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione transferase activities and reduced glutathione level, explaining the detected excessive ROS production. Besides, using high content analysis, the decline of mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, which was closed to the NAFLD pathogenesis, was also demonstrated in HepG2 cells.