Abstract: Objective To study the therapeutic effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate lipid ligand （DGLL） on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease（NAFLD） and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods The model of NAFLD was established in rats by feeding high fat diet,and then the DGLL was given with polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules （PPC） as control. Serum liver function index,blood lipids and glucose,insulin,leptin, adiponectin were detected. The expression of P-AMPKα was immunohistochemically assayed,and PPAR-γ,CPT1,GLUT-4,ACO,L-FABP and ACC mRNA were detected by real time PCR. Results The serum levels of leptin in DGLL group were （3.87±0.38） ng/ml,much lower than in the model group [（4.68±0.39） ng/ml,P<0.01] or in PPC group[（4.55±0.24） ng/ml,P<0.01];serum adiponectin levels was（12.27±0.64）μg/ml,much higher than in the model【（10.46±0.28）μg/ml,P<0.01】,while it was not significantly different from in PPC group【（12.13±0.56）μg/ml,P>0.05】;the P-AMPKα expression area in liver tissue was （8.38±3.27）%,much higher than in the model 【（1.81±0.90）%,P<0.01】 or in PPC group【（5.50±0.73）%,P<0.05】;the PPAR-γ,CPT-1,GLUT-4 mRNA in liver tissues were （1.07±0.14,0.91±0.05,1.61±0.54,respectively）,much higher than in the model 【（0.26±0.12, 0.14±0.01, 0.10±0.03,respectivelyt,P<0.05】,while the ACO mRNA was not significantly different from in the model [（0.23±0.09）vs. （0.24±0.02）,P>0.05】;the hepatic PPAR-γ and CPT-1 mRNA in PPC group were （0.65±0.16） and （0.22±0.05）,much lower than in DGLL group（P<0.05）,while the GLUT-4 and ACO mRNA were not significantly different from in the DGLL group（P>0.05）;the hepatic ACC mRNA in DGLL group was （1.67±0.23）,much lower than in the model【（3.31±0.02）,P<0.05】 or in the PPC group【（2.69±0.14）,P<0.05】;the hepatic L-FABP mRNA in DGLL group was（1.06±0.04）,much lower than in the model 【（1.26±0.02）,P<0.05】,but not significantly diferent from in PPC group【（1.06±0.09）,P>0.05】. Conclusion We found DGLL could reduce serum transaminase,blood lipids,blood glucose,insulin,HOMA-IR and leptin,increase hepatic PPAR-γ,CPT-1 and GLUT-4 mRNA and decrease the L-FABP and ACC mRNA levels in rats with NAFLD. DGLL could significantly improve liver function and lipid metabolism in NAFLD,which may be related to the activation of AMPK pathway.

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, Diammonium glycyrrhizinate lipid ligand, Polyene phosphatidyl choline capsules, AMPK, Rats