Lipidomic and Transcriptomic Insights into Hepatic Lipid Remodeling Induced by Peony Seed Oil

Peony seed oil (PSO), rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially α-linolenic acid, may influence hepatic lipid metabolism, but its mechanisms remain unclear. We evaluated the effects of PSO in high-fat diet-fed rats using biochemical assays, liver histology, hepatic lipidomics, transcriptomics, and targeted validation. PSO improved serum lipid profiles, reduced hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and alleviated steatosis. Lipidomics revealed extensive remodeling of hepatic lipid subclasses, with differential lipids enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing species. Integrated multiomics analysis showed coordinated changes in PUFA-containing phospholipids and fatty acid metabolism-related transcripts, including Fads1, Fads2, Ppara, Elovl5, and Cpt1a. Cross-omics correlations suggested adaptive regulation of endogenous PUFA metabolism rather than simple dietary lipid incorporation. Validation confirmed increased hepatic expression of Fads1, Fads2, and Ppara. These findings indicate that PSO improves hepatic lipid homeostasis by coordinating lipid composition and metabolic regulatory pathways.