The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of telmisartan (TEL) on hepatic fibrosis, serum leptin, leptin protein in liver tissue and its mRNA expression level in rats with non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control (N), model (M), polyene phosphatidylcholine (P) and TEL (T) groups. Group M and the intervention groups were given a high‑fat diet for 12 weeks to induce NAFLD, followed by 4 weeks of intragastric administration of normal saline (1.0 ml/kg/day), polyene phosphatidylcholine (PPC; 123.1 mg/kg/day) and TEL (8 mg/kg/day). The liver tissue was then assessed for the NAFLD activity score and fibrosis score (FS), and serum biochemistry and leptin levels were determined. Additionally, leptin protein expression levels were examined by western blotting and the expression of leptin mRNA was investigated by reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction. TEL significantly improved FS in rats (P<0.01) and was more effective than PPC. TEL significantly reduced the expression of serum leptin, as well as the expression levels of leptin protein and its mRNA in liver tissue (P<0.01); however, the effects of PPC were not significant (P>0.05). TEL reduced serum leptin, leptin protein and its mRNA in the liver tissue of NAFLD rats, and improved the pathological indicators of liver fibrosis.

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