Scoparone improves hepatic inflammation and autophagy in mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by regulating the ROS/P38/Nrf2 axis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in macrophages.

•Scoparone improves hepatic inflammation and autophagy in mice with MCD diet.•Scoparone has an effect on autophag in macrophages, but not hepatocytes.•Scoparone inhibited the up-regulation of p62 transcription by ROS/P38/Nrf2 axis.•Scoparone enhances autophagy flux by promoting autolysosome formation.•Scoparone regulates autophagy by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.