Sangyod rice extract attenuates oleic acid–induced hepatic steatosis by modulating apoptotic, inflammatory, and lipid metabolic pathways

Food-derived bioactive compounds have long been studied for their safety, cost-effectiveness, and potential industrial applicability. In this study, Sangyod rice extract from a traditional Thai rice variety was investigated using cell-based models to evaluate its antioxidant capacity and its effects on cellular oxidative status, lipid accumulation, and lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways. The extract was further assessed for its influence on inflammatory response, apoptosis-related markers, and proteins associated with lipid metabolism. The results demonstrated that treatment with the extract significantly reduced reactive oxygen species production and lipid accumulation in oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells. Furthermore, Sangyod rice extract modulated key regulators of lipid metabolism, including sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-1), fatty acid synthase (FASN), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), and PPARα. In addition, the extract influenced Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. These findings suggest that Sangyod rice extract is a promising source of bioactive compounds with measurable functional activity <i>in vitro</i> and may have potential for further development in functional food and nutraceutical applications.