Objective: To observe the effects of Pien Tze Huang on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats and to investigate its mechanism. Method: Forty-eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:the normal group

the model group

the simvastatin group (0.003 g · kg-1 · d-1)

the low-

medium-and high-dose Pien Tze Huang groups (0.5

1

2 g · kg-1 · d-1). The nonalcoholic fatty liver disease model was induced in rats by feeding a high fat diet. After 4 weeks

related specimens were collected and the liver function indexes including aspartate amino transferase (AST)

alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

albumin (Alb)

total bilirubin (TBIL)

γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT)

lipid indexes including total cholesterol (TCH)

triglyceride (TG)

low density lipoprotein (LDL)

high density lipoprotein (HDL) were detected by biochemical analyzer. The mRNA expressions of farnesoid X receptor (FXR)

small heterodimer partner (SHP) and sterol regulatory element binding proteins-1c (SREBP-1c) were measured by RT-PCR. The liver histopathological changes were observed by HE staining. Result: Compared with the normal group

the levels of AST

ALT

γ-GT and LDL increased

the mRNA expressions of FXR

SHP decreased

the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c increased and the liver histopathological had varying degrees of injuries in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group

the levels of AST

ALT

γ-GT and LDL decreased

the mRNA expressions of FXR

SHP increased

the mRNA expression of SREBP-1c decreased and the liver histopathological injuries had good improvement in the low-and medium-dose Pien Tze Huang groups (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Pien Tze Huang

especially the low and medium dose

is beneficial to treating fatty liver by improving the liver function and reducing blood lipid

which may be related to regulating the pathway of FXR-SHP-SREBP-1c.