The i-motif binding ligand A22 showed significant therapeutic effect for NAFLD model by reducing hepatocyte apoptosis, affecting expressions of caspase family members (cleaved-caspase 3&9), hepatic injury (hepatocyte ballooning, serous levels of ALT and AST), hepatic inflammatory response (inflammatory cytokines and lymphocyte mononuclear macrophage numbers) possibly through up-regulating BCL-2. Here, BCL2 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.