PRKAA1 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: To determine whether the improvement of lipid accumulation in NAFLD by Rhein is mediated through the AMPK signaling pathway, four experimental groups were established: NAFLD + DMSO, NAFLD + AMPK-IN-3, NAFLD + High-Rhein + DMSO, and NAFLD + High-Rhein + AMPK-IN-3, to evaluate the impact of AMPK inhibition on the metabolic benefits of Rhein.