Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases globally, and currently, there is a lack of specific effective drugs. Ginsenoside F1 (Gf1) is the main active ingredient of the traditional Cahinese medicine Sansheng Siwei Wan, but its role and mechanism in NAFLD remain unclear. This study aims to explore the ameliorative effect of Gf1 on NAFLD and clarify whether it exerts its effect by regulating the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and autophagy. An NAFLD model was established by feeding SD rats with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks, followed by intragastric administration of different doses (25, 50, 100 mg/kg/d) of Gf1 for 4 weeks. In vitro, a lipotoxicity model was established by treating AML-12 mouse hepatocytes with a mixture of oleic acid/palmitic acid (OA/PA), and Gf1 (20, 40 μM) was applied for intervention. The efficacy of Gf1 was evaluated by detecting serum biochemical indicators, liver histopathology, inflammatory factors, cell proliferation, apoptosis, etc. Western Blot was used to detect the expression of key proteins in the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway and autophagy marker proteins in the liver and cells. Mechanistic verification was carried out by using the AMPK inhibitor BML-275 and the PGC-1α inhibitor SR-18292. Gf1 intervention significantly reduced the liver weight, liver index, serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, TC, and the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ in NAFLD rats, and improved liver fat accumulation and glycogen storage. In AML-12 cells, Gf1 promoted cell proliferation inhibited by FFA, inhibited cell apoptosis and the release of inflammatory factors. Mechanistic studies showed that Gf1 significantly upregulated the protein expression of p-AMPK and PGC-1α in liver tissues and cells, and simultaneously activated autophagy (increased LC3-II/I and Beclin-1, decreased p62). The promoting effects of Gf1 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and autophagy could be reversed by the AMPK or PGC-1α inhibitor. Gf1 can effectively improve liver steatosis, inflammatory response, and cell damage in NAFLD models in vivo and in vitro. Its protective effect may be related to the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and the subsequent enhancement of autophagy. This study reveals for the first time the potential value of Gf1 in the treatment of NAFLD and its molecular mechanism, providing new experimental evidence for the development of NAFLD drugs targeting the AMPK/PGC-1α/autophagy axis.
