To explore the mechanism of phlegm-resolving and stasis- removing herbals on NAFLD by observing expressions of PGC1α mRNA and insulin resistance.

A total of 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, positive medication control group, high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose group. The rats were fed with high-fat forage for 8 weeks. The positive medication control group were gavaged with Dongbao-Gantai liquid (0.9 g/kg/day), the high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose group were gavaged with Xiaotan-Huayu liquid (43.34、32.50、21.67 g/kg/day), and normal group, model group were gavaged with equal volume of distilled water. The drugs were given by 1 ml/100 g and last for 8 weeks. The levels of TC, TG, FFA, ALT, AST, FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR in serum, and levels of TC, TG, and PGC-1α mRNA and pathological morphological changes in hepatic tissue were observed after 8 weeks.

The levels of TG (0.55 ± 0.10 mmol/L, 0.58 ± 0.09 mmol/L, 0.67 ± 0.11 mmol/L vs. 1.18 ± 0.15 mmol/L), TC (1.48 ± 0.24 mmol/L, 1.69 ± 0.27 mmol/L, 1.74 ± 0.27 mmol/L vs. 3.29 ± 0.26 mmol/L), FFA (251.08 ± 48.18 μmol/L, 277.53 ± 56.73 μmol/L, 291.82 ± 48.67 μmol/L vs. 432.19 ± 67.83 μmol/L), ALT (29.32 ± 4.17 U/L, 31.26 ± 4.74 U/L, 33.56 ± 5.18 U/L vs. 47.21 ± 8.67 U/L), AST (11.05 ± 2.18 U/L, 12.15 ± 2.67 U/L, 12.96 ± 2.93 U/L vs. 19.43 ± 3.68 U/L), FBG (5.68 ± 1.22 mmol/L, 6.86 ± 1.36 mmol/L, 7.94 ± 1.82 mmol/L vs. 11.88 ± 2.54 mmol/L), FINS (8.48 ± 1.22 mmol/L, 9.55 ± 1.95 mmol/L, 9.96 ± 1.74 mmol/L vs. 12.96 ± 2.67 mmol/L), HOMA-IR (1.91 ± 0.26, 2.91 ± 0.65, 3.52 ± 0.58 vs. 6.89 ± 1.21) in serum of high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose groups were decreased than model group. Levels of FFA (242.19 ± 35.13 μmol/L, 259.78 ± 29.33 μmol/L, 277.62 ± 34.29 μmol/L vs. 436.48 ± 52.15 μmol/L), TG (23.65 ± 3.28 mmol/L, 24.41 ± 3.15 mmol/L, 25.37 ± 3.59 mmol/L vs. 15.98 ± 2.37 mmol/L), TC (7.15 ± 0.82 mmol/L, 8.60 ± 0.95 mmol/L, 8.86 ± 1.04 mmol/L vs. 36.98 ± 4.28 mmol/L) were in hepatic tissue of high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose groups were significantly lower than the model group. The levels of PGC-1α mRNA (1.24 ± 0.06, 1.02 ± 0.07, 0.99 ± 0.08 vs. 0.43 ± 0.06) in hepatic tissue of high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose groups were significantly higher than model group.

The phlegm-resolving and stasis-removing herbals may improve lipid metabolism by regulating the expression of PGC-1α mRNA, inhibiting gluconeogenesis and liver sugar output, correcting disturbance of lipid metabolism and improving insulin resistance.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Phlegm-resolving and stasis-removing; PGC-1α; Rats