OBJECTIVE  To study the effect of Danzhi Tiaozhi Decoction on the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway in rats with high-fat-diet (HFD) induced metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and to explore its role in the treatment of MAFLD.

  METHODS  Male SD rats were divided into the normal group, HFD model group, and high, medium, and low dose groups of Danzhi Tiaozhi Decoction. The normal group and HFD group were given equal volumes of saline, while the high, medium, and low dose groups of Danzhi Tiaozhi Decoction were given Danzhi Tiaozhi Decoction 20.4, 10.2, and 5.1 g · kg^-1·d^-1, respectively. The samples were collected after 8 weeks of continuous gavage. Detect the changes in body mass, blood lipids, blood glucose, insulin levels, HOMA-IR, and liver tissue lipid deposition in the five groups of rats. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

  RESULTS  Compared with the normal group, the body mass, TG, TC, FFA, GLU, INS, LDL-C, and HOMA-IR levels of the HFD model group rats were significantly increased, while the HDL-C levels were significantly reduced; oil red O staining of liver tissue reveals obvious enlargement of liver cells and significant lipid deposition; the phosphorylation expression levels of PI3K and AKT proteins were significantly reduced. Compared with the HFD group, the body mass, TG, TC, FFA, GLU, INS, LDL-C, and HOMA-IR levels of the high, medium, and low dose groups of Danzhi Tiaozhi Decoction were significantly declined; the enlarged liver cells, lipid droplets and arrangement structure of liver cells were improved to varying degrees; the phosphorylation expression levels of PI3K and AKT proteins were increased.

  CONCLUSION  Danzhi Tiaozhi Decoction may improve insulin resistance through the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway, thereby achieving the goal of preventing and treating MAFLD.