The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ellagic acid (EA), a known herbal antioxidant, on a high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced rat model of NAFLD by evaluating the status of lipid profile, necroptosis (RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL), autophagy (LC3, ATG5, and BECN1), inflammation (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐4, and IL‐10), and stress (SOD, CAT, GR, GPx, and MDA). This evidence concerns the gene ATG5 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.