Baicalin confers hepatoprotective effect against alcohol-associated liver disease by upregulating microRNA-205

•miR-205 exerts hepatoprotective effect against alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD).•miR-205 targets and inhibits importinα5 expression.•Baicalin upregulates miR-205 expression.•Baicalin inhibits importinα5 to repress the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.•This study provides better understanding of the hepatoprotective effect of baicalin in ALD.