The effects of berberine on hyperhomocysteinemia and hyperlipidemia in rats fed with a long-term high-fat diet.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The study was undertaken to examine the effects of berberine (BBR) on serum homocysteine, lipids and the aortic lesion in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed with a long-term high-fat diet (HFD).

METHODS:

Healthy male SD rats weighing 190-210 g received randomly standard diet or a high-fat diet for 24 weeks. After 8 weeks of feeding, rats fed with HFD were randomized to receive berberine (200 mg · kg-1· day-1) or vehicle by gavage for 16 weeks. After overnight fasting, all rats were sacrificed and total blood samples were also collected for determinant of fasting serum homocysteine (Hcy), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels. The aorta was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Sudan Ш to evaluate aortic lesion. The livers were dissected out and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for hepatic TC content and molecular analysis. 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), Lipoprotein receptors and apolipoproteins gene expression in the liver were determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTS:

Intragastrical administration with berberine for 16 weeks lowered serum Hcy in rats fed with a high-fat diet. In parallel, it also decreased body weight and improved serum TC and LDL-c. Berberine also tended to decrease hepatic cholesterol. Consistently, berberine also upregulated LDL receptor (LDLR) mRNA level and suppressed HMGR gene expression. Meanwhile, upon berberine-treated rats, there was a significant increase in apolipoprotein E (apoE) mRNA, but no change in apoAI and scavenger receptor (SR) mRNA in the liver. Further, no atherosclerotic lesions were developed in berberine-treated rats for 16 weeks.

CONCLUSION:

Berberine can counteract HFD-elicited hyperhomocysteinemia and hyperlipidemia partially via upregulating LDLR and apoE mRNA levels and suppressing HMGR gene expression.

• Authors: Xin-xia Chang, Hong-mei Yan, Qiong Xu, Ming-feng Xia, Hua Bian, Teng-fang Zhu, Xin Gao
• Journal: Lipids in health and disease (Lipids Health Dis) Vol. 11 Pg. 86 (Jul 04 2012) ISSN: 1476-511X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22762542 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Lipids
• Receptors, Lipoprotein
• Berberine
• Homocysteine
• Cholesterol
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases

Topics

• Animals
• Aorta (drug effects, pathology)
• Apolipoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Atherosclerosis (prevention & control)
• Berberine (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cholesterol (metabolism)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Homocysteine (blood)
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases (genetics, metabolism)
• Hyperhomocysteinemia (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Hyperlipidemias (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Hypolipidemic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lipids (blood)
• Liver (metabolism)
• Male
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Lipoprotein (genetics, metabolism)
• Risk Factors