HMOX1 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: In NASH mice, APE (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased serum ALT (160.0 ± 49.1 vs. 311.2 ± 66.7 U/L) and AST (96.0 ± 18.7 vs. 219.0 ± 55.7 U/L, p < 0.001), reduced hepatic macrophage infiltration by 68%, and substantially attenuated inflammatory markers (Ccl2, Tnf, and IL6), oxidative stress indicators (NRF2, HMOX1, and CYBB), and fibrogenic markers (ACTA2, COL1A1, and TGFB1) by 83–85% (p < 0.001).