Quantification of intracellular lipid levels in hepatocytes after transfection with plant miR6262 mimic. (a) Intracellular triglycerides levels measured by Nile Red staining. (b) Intracellular triglycerides levels measured by Triglyceride-GloTM Assay. Reverse-transfection of HepG2 cells was conducted with the plant miR6262 mirVana mimic (5′-UCUUUAGAAAGUUAGAAUUGU-3′) and a negative control (a scramble sequence) at 50 nM. At 48 h post-transfection, cells were exposed to free fatty acids (a mixture of oleic and palmitic acids at 0.5 M and a 2:1 ratio) for 3 h. Scramble-sequence-transfected cells, untreated with FFA, served as positive control. Results are expressed as the percentage of lipid accumulation, reflecting the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) of the lipid content versus to FFA-treated negative control (Nile red staining: n = 6–7; Triglyceride-GloTM assay: n = 3). Statistical significance was assessed by comparing miR6262 transfected cells and untreated negative control to the FFA-treated negative control. p-value ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. Abbreviations: NC (negative control), FFA (free fatty acids).