The invention includes a method of preventing or treating a toxic liver disease or disorder, such as but not limited to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver injury associated with or caused by alcohol consumption in a mammal afflicted with NASH, alcoholic hepatitis, drug induced liver injury, primary sclerosing cholangitis, viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and other toxic liver conditions, in a subject, such as a mammal. The invention also includes a method of promoting weight loss in a subject, such as a mammal. The invention comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of at least one cardiac glycoside or a solvate, salt, prodrug or derivative thereof.