Picroside II alleviated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via the AMPK-Nrf2 pathway.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of liver injury and increases the risk for other diseases, particularly with the rising rates of obesity. Picroside has been utilized as a traditional Chinese medicine for liver protection for thousands of years, and Picroside II is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effects. Methods We used C57BL/6 mice to establish the tyloxapol-induced NAFLD model and employed oleic acid (OA) and palmitic acid (PA) for the cell model. Fat concentration and activation of the AMPK-Nrf2 pathway were assessed through staining, biochemical assays, and protein expression analysis. Results Treatment with Picroside II reduced fat concentration and activated the AMPK-Nrf2 pathway. In the mouse model, Picroside II protected the liver from excessive fat accumulation and also reduced blood lipid levels. Furthermore, Picroside II enhanced the body's antioxidant capacity. Conclusion Picroside II exhibits protective effects against NAFLD by reducing fat accumulation through the activation of the AMPK-Nrf2 pathway, making it a potential candidate for drug development.