To conclude, ECD treatment can activate AMPK, thereby inactivating ACC1 and reducing the protein levels of m-SREBP-1c, SREBP-2, FAS and HMGCS1, suggesting that ECD can inhibit endogenous lipid synthesis through the AMPK pathway in HepG2 NAFLD model cells. Here, HMGCS1 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.