Danggui Shaoyao Powder Alleviates MAFLD by Regulating the AMPK/Nrf2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which Danggui Shaoyao powder (DSP) treats metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

The MAFLD rats were established by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD). After 12 weeks of modeling, DSP treatment was administered simultaneously with the modeling for 4 weeks. Parameters assessed included lipid metabolism, liver function, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Hepatic histopathological changes were also evaluated. Proteins associated with the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway were analyzed using western blot. Additionally, the involvement of the AMPK/Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway in palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells was confirmed using an AMPK activator and AMPK and Nrf2 inhibitors.

Findings demonstrated that DSP effectively regulated lipid metabolism, improved liver function, and reduced oxidative injury and inflammation in MAFLD rats. In PA-treated HepG2 cells, DSP significantly decreased lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Furthermore, DSP increased AMPK phosphorylation, leading to Nrf2 activation and inhibition of NF-κB phosphorylation in both MAFLD rats and HepG2 cells.

The results indicate that DSP mitigates oxidative damage and inflammation associated with MAFLD, likely by modulating the AMPK/Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway.