Fig. 4

RFAs improved NAFLD by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome. C57 BL/6 mice were fed by MCD diet for 9 weeks. RFAs (rhein/diacerein, emodin, aloe emodin, 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone), herbs in yichenhao decoction and yichenhao decoction as well as inflammasome inhibitors MCC950 and VX765 were given by gavage every 2 days when MCD diet treatment started. Serum ALT (A) and AST (B) were detected by ALT/AST kits, serum IL-1β (C) and TNF-α (D) were detected by ELISA. Histopathological inflammation score was accessed (E) and H&E stain were also detected (G). Collagen staining was detected semi quantitatively (F) and sirius red staining were detected (H). Control group was fed by MCS diet (n = 5/group); Model group was fed by MCD diet (n = 14/group); Intervention groups were fed by MCD diet and different drugs (n = 7/group). For multiple comparisons, one-way ANOVA coupled with LSD’s post hoc testing was performed. &: p < 0.05; &&: p < 0.01; &&&: p < 0.001. ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ANOVA, analysis of variance; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; IL-1β, interleukin-1 beta; MCD, methionine and choline deficiency; MCS, methionine-choline-supplemented; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-alpha