Yinchen Linggui Zhugan Decoction (YCLGZGD) is the combination of Linggui Zhugan (LGZGD) and
Yinchenhao (YCHD) decoctions, two famous
traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. In previous studies, we found that
Yinchen Linggui Zhugan Decoction (YCLGZGD) could regulate
lipid metabolism disorder and attenuate
inflammation in pathological process of
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (
NAFLD). However, the exact underlying mechanism remains unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of
Yinchen Linggui Zhugan Decoction on experimental
NAFLD and its mechanism in rats with high-fat diet (HFD) which was established by 8-week administration of HFD. YCLGZGD, LGZGD, and YCHD were administered daily for 4 weeks, after which the rats were euthanized. The level of blood
lipid, liver
enzymes, H&E, and
Oil Red O staining were determined to evaluate
NAFLD severity. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were, respectively, used to determine hepatic
protein and gene expression of Keap1, Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1. Oral YCLGZGD ameliorated HFD-induced
NAFLD. Furthermore, YCLGZGD increased the
protein and gene expression of Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 without changing Keap1. Overall, these results suggest that YCLGZGD ameliorates HFD-induced
NAFLD in rats by upregulating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.