Lianhe Xiaozhi ointment ameliorates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha pathway activation

Figure 4 Lianhe Xiaozhi ointment normalized hepatic lipid metabolism and ameliorated inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. A: Representative images of mice and liver morphology; B: Lianhe Xiaozhi ointment (LXO) reduced high-fat diet-induced weight gain (n = 12); C: Food intake post-LXO treatment (n = 12); D: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) curves (n = 8); E: Area under the curve of the OGTT (n = 8); F: Hepatic non-esterified fatty acid levels (n = 7); G: Representative Hematoxylin and eosin and Oil red O staining of liver tissue, with 100 μm scale bars (n = 5); H: Detection of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels in liver tissue by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (n = 5); I and J: Representative western blot images (I) and quantitative analyses (J) of IL-1β and IL-18 in liver tissue (n = 6). One-way analysis of variance was employed, and the data are presented as mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal diet group. ^bP < 0.01 vs normal diet group. ^cP < 0.001 vs normal diet group. ^dP < 0.05 vs high-fat diet group. ^eP < 0.01 vs high-fat diet group. ^fP < 0.001 vs high-fat diet group. ND: Normal diet; HFD: High-fat diet; L-LXO: Low-dose Lianhe Xiaozhi ointment; H-LXO: High-dose Lianhe Xiaozhi ointment; IL: Interleukin; AUC: Area under curve; OGTT: Oral glucose tolerance test; NEFA: Non-esterified fatty acid; HE: Hematoxylin and eosin.