Rhynchophylline relieves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by activating lipase and increasing energy metabolism

Hepatic fat metabolism may be altered in the context of overnutrition and obesity, often resulting in the accumulation of triglycerides in hepatocytes and leading to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Natural plant alkaloids have demonstrated great potential for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. However, the role of rhynchophylline (RHY) in lipid metabolism is not clear. We explored the role of RHY in lipid metabolism in cells treated with oleic and palmitic acids to mimic high-fat diet (HFD) conditions. RHY attenuated oleic and palmitic acid-induced increases in triglyceride accumulation in HepG2, AML12, and LMH cells. RHY also increased energy metabolism and reduced oxidative stress. We further investigated the effect of RHY on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice fed an HFD including 40 mg/kg RHY. RHY alleviated hepatic steatosis, reduced fat deposition, promoted energy metabolism, and improved glucose metabolism. We investigated the mechanism responsible for this activity by docking with key proteins of lipid metabolism disorders using Discovery Studio software, which showed that RHY interacted well with lipases. Finally, we found that adding RHY promoted lipase activity and lipolysis. In conclusion, RHY ameliorated HFD-induced NAFLD and its complications by increasing lipase activity.