Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of Phyllanthus emblica extract on hepatic LXRα/FAS pathway protein expression in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, polyene phosphatidylcholine group, low-dose, moderate-dose and high-dose Phyllanthus emblica-intervened groups. After the successful establishment of the model, except for in the control group and in the model group, the rats were given intragastric administration of agents for 6 weeks. The histopathological changes of liver were examined, serum TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-10 levels were detected by ELISA, and the percentages of peripheral blood CD4⁺IL-17⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺Treg cells were detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of LXRα and FAS in liver tissues were detected by WB. Results Compared with in the model group, the administration of high dose of Phyllanthus emblica extract could improve the pathological changes of liver tissues, serum ALT, AST, TC and TG levels were significantly decreased, serum TNF-α and IL-17 levels were (34.7±0.9) pg/ml and (3.2±0.2) pg/mL, significantly decreased, while serum IL-10 level was significantly increased, e.g. (4.8±0.2 pg/mL,P<0.05); the percentage of CD4⁺IL-17⁺ cells in the high-dose of Phyllanthus emblica intervention was (1.1±0.6)%, significantly lower than [(1.9±0.4)%, P<0.05]in the model group, the percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺Treg was (1.5±0.6)%, significantly higher than in the model group [(0.9±0.2)%, P<0.05]; the hepatic expression of LXRα and FAS in the small, moderate and high dose ofPhyllanthus emblica extract-intervened groups were significantly decreased [(1.8±0.1) and (2.0±0.2),P<0.05]compared to those in the model. Conclusion The extract of Phyllanthus emblica could improve the histopathological changes of liver tissues of rats with NAFLD, which might be related to the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and hepatic LXRα/ FAS expression as well as modulation of Th17/Treg cells.

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Extractum Phyllanthus emblica, CD4⁺IL-17⁺ cells, CD4⁺CD25⁺Treg cells, LXRα/FAS, Rats