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Wang S, Zhang T, Liu X, Yang Z, Li L, Shan D, Gao Y, Li Y, Li Y, Zhang Y, Wang Q. Toxicity and toxicokinetics of the ethanol extract of Zuojin formula. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:220. [PMID: 35971113 PMCID: PMC9377102 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03684-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Zuojin formula, a traditional Chinese medicine, comprises Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa. In our previous study, the total alkaloid extract from Zuojin formula (TAZF) showed potent and improved efficacy. However, its safety and toxicokinetics remain unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of repeated administrations of TAZF and investigate the internal exposure of the main components and its relationship with toxic symptoms.
Methods
Sprague–Dawley rats were orally administered TAZF at 0.4, 1.2 and 3.7 g/kg for 28 days, which was followed by a 14-day recovery period. The toxic effects were evaluated weekly by assessing body weight changes, food intake, blood biochemistry and haematological indices, organ weights and histological changes. A total of eight components were detected, including berberine, coptisine, epiberberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, evodiamine, and rutaecarpine. The toxicokinetic profiles of the eight components were investigated after single and repeated administrations. Linear mixed effect models were applied to analyse the associations between internal exposure and toxic symptoms. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to explore the potential toxic mechanisms.
Results
Compared with the vehicle group, the rats in the low- and medium-dose groups did not show noticeable abnormal changes, while rats in the high-dose group exhibited inhibition of weight gain, a slight reduction in food consumption, abdominal bloating and atrophy of the splenic white pulp during drug administration. The concentration of berberine in plasma was the highest among all compounds. Epiberberine was found to be associated with the inhibition of weight gain. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that the alkaloids might cause abdominal bloating by affecting the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. The benchmark dose lower confidence limits (based on body weight inhibition) of TAZF were 1.27 g/kg (male) and 1.91 g/kg (female).
Conclusions
TAZF has no notable liver or kidney toxicity but carries risks of gastrointestinal and immune toxicity at high doses. Alkaloids from Coptis chinensis are the main plasma components related to the toxic effects of TAZF.
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Lu Y, Huang J, Zhang Y, Huang Z, Yan W, Zhou T, Wang Z, Liao L, Cao H, Tan B. Therapeutic Effects of Berberine Hydrochloride on Stress-Induced Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats by Inhibiting Neurotransmission in Colonic Smooth Muscle. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:596686. [PMID: 34594213 PMCID: PMC8476869 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.596686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiology of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is complicated and closely related to neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Developing new strategies for treating this disease is a major challenge for IBS-D research. Berberine hydrochloride (BBH), the derivative of berberine, is a herbal constituent used to treat IBS. Previous studies have shown that BBH has potential anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, and antidiarrheal effects and a wide range of biological activities, especially in regulating the release of some neurotransmitters. A modified IBS-D rat model induced by chronic restraint stress was used in all experiments to study the effects of BBH on the GI tract. This study measured the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) response to graded colorectal distention (CRD; 20, 40, 60, and 80 mmHg) and observed the fecal areas of stress-induced IBS-D model. Experiments were conducted using organ bath techniques, which were performed in vitro using strips of colonic longitudinal smooth muscle. Inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter agents were added to each organ bath to observe contractile responses on the strips and the treatment effect exerted by BBH. The IBS-D rat model was successfully induced by chronic restraint stress, which resulted in an increased defecation frequency and visceral hypersensitivity similar to that of humans. BBH could reduce 4-h fecal areas and AWR response to CRD in IBS-D. The stress-induced IBS-D model showed upregulated colonic mRNA expression levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine-3A receptor and downregulated expression levels of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Meanwhile, BBH could reverse this outcome. The responses of substances that regulate the contraction induced by related neurotransmission in the longitudinal smooth muscle of IBS-D colon (including the agonist of acetylcholine, carbachol; NOS inhibitor, L-NAME; and P2Y1 receptor antagonist, MRS2500) can be inhibited by BBH. In summary, BBH promotes defecation frequency and visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D and exerts inhibitory effects on contractile responses in colonic longitudinal smooth muscle. Thus, BBH may represent a new therapeutic approach for treating IBS-D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Lu
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zitong Huang
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiming Yan
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianran Zhou
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhesheng Wang
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Liao
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongying Cao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Tan
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Miao L, Yun X, Yang X, Jia S, Jiao C, Shao R, Hao J, Chang Y, Fan G, Zhang J, Geng Q, Wichai N, Gao X. An inhibitory effect of Berberine from herbal Coptis chinensis Franch on rat detrusor contraction in benign prostatic hyperplasia associated with lower urinary tract symptoms. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 268:113666. [PMID: 33301912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Coptis chinensis Franch (CCF), also known as Huang Lian in China, is a traditional Chinese medicine that commonly used for more than 2000 years. Clinically, CCF often used as anti-inflammatory, immune regulation and other effects. It has been reported that the decoction containing CCF can be used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). AIM OF THE STUDY This research aims to investigate the effect of CCF on inhibition of BPH development in vivo and in vitro, and further identify the active compound (s) and the possible mechanism involved in BPH-related bladder dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Oestrodial/testosterone-induced BPH rat model was established as the in vivo model. The prostate index (PI) was calculated, the pathogenesis was analyzed and the micturition parameters were determined in the shamed-operated, BPH model and BPH + CCF groups after 4-week administration. The tension in detrusor strips was then assessed upon KCl or ACh stimulation with or without incubation of CCF or active compounds. To further investigate the signaling involved, rat detrusor cells were cultured as the in vitro models, the instantaneous calcium influx was measured and the ROCK-1 expression was detected. RESULTS Increased PI value and the aggravated prostatic pathology were observed with voiding dysfunction in BPH rats, which were significantly blocked by oral CCF taken. ACh or KCl-induced contractile responses in detrusor strips were significantly inhibited and the micturition parameters were improved when incubation with CCF or its active compounds such as berberine. Both CCF and berberine suppressed the cellular calcium influx and ROCK-1 expression upon ACh stimulation, demonstrating that berberine was one of the active compounds that contributed to CCF-improved micturition symptoms and function. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings give evidence that CCF and its active compound berberine inhibited BPH and bladder dysfunction via Ca2+ and ROCK signaling, supporting their clinical use for BPH and BPH-related LUTS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Miao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formula, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Xiaoting Yun
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formula, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Sitong Jia
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formula, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Chanyuan Jiao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Rui Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formula, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Jia Hao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yanxu Chang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Guanwei Fan
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Ju Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, And Bioactive Materials Key Lab of Ministry of Education (J.Z.), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Qiang Geng
- Department of Andrology, The First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Nuttapong Wichai
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand
| | - Xiumei Gao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formula, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Health Industry Park, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
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Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Berberine-Treated Colon Cancer Cells Reveals Potential Therapy Targets. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10030250. [PMID: 33806918 PMCID: PMC8005188 DOI: 10.3390/biology10030250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Colon cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and beberine has been found to exert potential anti-colon cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, by using proteomics and bioinformatics approaches, we report that berberine may inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells by regulating mitochondrial translation and ribosome biogenesis, as well as by promoting calcium mobilization and metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins. Moreover, GTPase ERAL1 and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins MRPL11, 15, 30, 37, 40, and 52 have great potential to serve as potential therapeutic targets for colon cancer treatment. Abstract Colon cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. Berberine has been found to exert potential anti-colon cancer activity in vitro and in vivo, although the detailed regulatory mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to identify the underlying crucial proteins and regulatory networks associated with berberine treatment of colon cancer by using proteomics as well as publicly available transcriptomics and tissue array data. Proteome profiling of berberine-treated colon cancer cells demonstrated that among 5130 identified proteins, the expression of 865 and 675 proteins were changed in berberine-treated HCT116 and DLD1 cells, respectively. Moreover, 54 differently expressed proteins that overlapped in both cell lines were mainly involved in mitochondrial protein synthesis, calcium mobilization, and metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins. Finally, GTPase ERAL1 and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins including MRPL11, 15, 30, 37, 40, and 52 were identified as hub proteins of berberine-treated colon cancer cells. These proteins have higher transcriptional and translational levels in colon tumor samples than that of colon normal samples, and were significantly down-regulated in berberine-treated colon cancer cells. Genetic dependency analysis showed that silencing the gene expression of seven hub proteins could inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells. This study sheds a light for elucidating the berberine-related regulatory signaling pathways in colon cancer, and suggests that ERAL1 and several mitochondrial ribosomal proteins might be promising therapeutic targets for colon cancer.
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Li L, Chang L, Zhang X, Ning Z, Mayne J, Ye Y, Stintzi A, Liu J, Figeys D. Berberine and its structural analogs have differing effects on functional profiles of individual gut microbiomes. Gut Microbes 2020; 11:1348-1361. [PMID: 32372706 PMCID: PMC7524264 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2020.1755413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The understanding of the effects of compounds on the gut microbiome is limited. In particular, it is unclear whether structurally similar compounds would have similar or distinct effects on the gut microbiome. Here, we selected berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid, and 16 structural analogs and evaluated their effects on seven individual gut microbiomes cultured in vitro. The responses of the individual microbiomes were evaluated by metaproteomic profiles and by assessing butyrate production. We show that both interindividual differences and compound treatments significantly contributed to the variance of metaproteomic profiles. BBR and eight analogs led to changes in proteins involved in microbial defense and stress responses and enrichment of proteins from Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla. It also led to a decrease in proteins from the Firmicutes phylum and its Clostridiales order which correlated to decrease proteins involved in the butyrate production pathway and butyrate concentration. Three of the compounds, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and ethoxysanguinarine, activated bacterial protective mechanisms, enriched Proteobacteria, increased opacity proteins, and markedly reduced butyrate production. Dihydroberberine had a similar function to BBR in enriching the Akkermansia genus. In addition, it showed less overall adverse impacts on the functionality of the gut microbiome, including a better maintenance of the butyrate level. Our study shows that ex vivo microbiome assay can assess differential regulating effects of compounds with subtle differences and reveals that compound analogs can have distinct effects on the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyuan Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Lu Chang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Zhibin Ning
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Janice Mayne
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Yang Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research & Natural Products Chemistry Department, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, University of Ottawa Joint Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, Shanghai, China
| | - Alain Stintzi
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada,Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, University of Ottawa Joint Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, University of Ottawa Joint Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, Shanghai, China,Jia Liu Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, University of Ottawa Joint Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, China
| | - Daniel Figeys
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada,Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, University of Ottawa Joint Research Center in Systems and Personalized Pharmacology, Shanghai, China,Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, Canada,CONTACT Daniel Figeys
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Si XB, Zhang XM, Lan Y. Berberine-based quadruple therapy for patients with Helicobacter pylori associated peptic ulcer: A meta-analysis. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2018; 26:1864-1873. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v26.i32.1864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of berberine-based quadruple therapy and classical triple therapy (a proton pump inhibitor with two antibiotics) in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated peptic ulcer.
METHODS Electronic databases including Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial, Wanfang Database, and VIP Database were searched with the search terms of "berberine AND H. pylori AND eradication". A funnel plot was adopted to evaluate publication bias. The meta-analysis was performed using a fixed effects model in case of low heterogeneity and a randomized effects model in case of high heterogeneity.
RESULTS A total of seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 948 subjects were included. The eradication rate (86.78% vs 70.04%), healing rate of ulcer (50.73% vs 40.30%), and total effective rate (94.57% vs 81.66%) in the berberine group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In addition, the total incidence of side effects in the berberine group was significantly lower than that of the control group (26.54% vs 40.44%).
CONCLUSION Compared with proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy, berberine-based quadruple therapy might improve eradication rate and promote the healing of gastric ulcer in patients with H. pylori associated peptic ulcer. In addition, berberine-based quadruple therapy might reduce the side effects throughout the therapy. More RCTs with high quality are expected to confirm our finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Bei Si
- Department of Gastroen-terology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Xu-Min Zhang
- Department of Gastroen-terology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
| | - Yu Lan
- Department of Gastroen-terology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China
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Ma BL, Ma YM, Gao CL, Wu JS, Qiu FR, Wang CH, Wang XH. Lipopolysaccharide increased the acute toxicity of the Rhizoma coptidis extract in mice by increasing the systemic exposure to Rhizoma coptidis alkaloids. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2011; 138:169-174. [PMID: 21924335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.08.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Revised: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Rhizoma coptidis is used as an antidysenteric in clinics in China. However, patients suffering from dysentery are susceptible to the acute toxicity of Rhizoma coptidis. The current study investigates the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which are a key pathogenic factor in dysentery, on the acute toxicity of a Rhizoma coptidis extract in mice; possible mechanisms are proposed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Acute toxicity and pharmacokinetic experiments in mice were conducted. The plasma concentration of Rhizoma coptidis alkaloids in mice was determined using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the tissue homogenate was determined using an AChE determination kit. RESULTS Pretreatment with LPS for 16 h increased the acute toxicity of the oral Rhizoma coptidis extract. Systemic exposure to Rhizoma coptidis alkaloids was also increased by LPS pretreatment. Neostigmine significantly increased whereas pyraloxime methylchloride reduced the acute toxicity of the Rhizoma coptidis extract. LPS pretreatment alone showed no significant effect on the activity of thoracoabdominal diaphragm AChE. However, it enhanced the inhibitory effect of the Rhizoma coptidis extract. LPS pretreatment did not affect the acute toxicity of various dosages of tail vein-injected berberine. CONCLUSIONS LPS increased the acute toxicity of the oral Rhizoma coptidis extract in mice by increasing the systemic exposure to the Rhizoma coptidis alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Liang Ma
- Laboratory of Pharmacokinetics, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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Guo F, Xu L, Sun X, Gao S, Zhu H. The paraventricular nucleus modulates thyroidal motilin release and rat gastric motility. J Neuroendocrinol 2011; 23:767-77. [PMID: 21756270 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02190.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Motilin, an important endocrine regulator of gastrointestinal motility, was once considered to be produced in the gastrointestinal tract and brain. In recent years, however, motilin has been found in the human thyroid, as well as in that of the guinea pig. The physiological function and central modulation of thyroidal motilin remain poorly understood. To determine the functional role of thyroidal motilin, we observed the concentration of motilin in the plasma and also gastric motility before and after thyroidectomy. Our studies show that both the concentration of plasma motilin and gastric motility were decreased after thyroidectomy. To explore modulation-related nuclei, a c-Fos immune response experiment was carried out. The PVN of the hypothalamus was the main area of reactivity after thyroidectomy. Subsequently, we studied the effects of electrical excitation and PVN lesions on gastric motility and the expression of motilin in the thyroid and plasma. Excitation of the PVN was shown to prompt gastric motility that was partly prevented by the motilin receptor antagonist, GM-109. The effects of PVN excitation on gastric contraction were significantly reduced in thyroidectomised rats. In addition, the expression of motilin in the thyroid was significantly increased after PVN excitation and decreased after PVN lesions. The changes in the concentration of motilin in plasma induced by PVN stimulation were positively correlated with changes of gastric motility. In our in vitro study, the motilin secreted from TT cells (a parafollicular cell line originating from human thyroid medullary carcinoma) gradually increased on day 6 of culture, and motilin and calcitonin (CT) were co-expressed in TT cells. These results demonstrate that motilin from the thyroid could be secreted into the peripheral plasma and affect gastric motility and that PVN was a central nucleus for modulating gastric motility and motilin expression in the thyroid.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Chen W, Fan D, Meng L, Miao Y, Yang S, Weng Y, He H, Tang X. Enhancing effects of chitosan and chitosan hydrochloride on intestinal absorption of berberine in rats. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2011; 38:104-10. [DOI: 10.3109/03639045.2011.592531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Lee TS, Pan CC, Peng CC, Kou YR, Chen CY, Ching LC, Tsai TH, Chen SF, Lyu PC, Shyue SK. Anti-atherogenic effect of berberine on LXRalpha-ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux in macrophages. J Cell Biochem 2011; 111:104-10. [PMID: 20506155 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Berberine, a botanical alkaloid purified from Cortidis rhizoma, has effects in cardiovascular diseases, yet the mechanism is not fully understood. Foam cells play a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of berberine on the formation of foam cells by macrophages and the underlying mechanism. Treatment with berberine markedly suppressed oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-mediated lipid accumulation, which was due to an increase in cholesterol efflux. Berberine enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of ATP-binding membrane cassette transport protein A1 (ABCA1) but did not alter the protein level of ABCG1 or other scavenger receptors. Additionally, functional inhibition of ABCA1 with a pharmacological inhibitor or neutralizing antibody abrogated the effects of berberine on cholesterol efflux and lipid accumulation. Moreover, berberine induced the nuclear translocation and activation of liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) but not its protein expression. Knockdown of LXRalpha mRNA expression by small interfering RNA abolished the berberine-mediated protective effects on ABCA1 protein expression and oxLDL-induced lipid accumulation in macrophages. These data suggest that berberine abrogates the formation of foam cells by macrophages by enhancing LXRalpha-ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzong-Shyuan Lee
- Institute of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan, ROC.
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Liu L, Yu YL, Yang JS, Li Y, Liu YW, Liang Y, Liu XD, Xie L, Wang GJ. Berberine suppresses intestinal disaccharidases with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic states, evidences from in vivo and in vitro study. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2010; 381:371-81. [PMID: 20229011 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-010-0502-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2009] [Accepted: 02/16/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Clinical reports have demonstrated that berberine is a potential antidiabetic agent, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate if berberine exerts its hypoglycemic action via inhibiting intestinal disaccharidases using in vivo and in vitro experiments. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats received berberine (100 or 200 mg/kg) orally once daily or acarbose (40 mg/kg) orally twice daily for 5 weeks. Disaccharidase activities and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) complex messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in intestinal regions were assessed. The same treatment was operated in normal rats. Sucrose and maltose loading tests were also documented. In addition, Caco-2 cells were cultured in medium containing berberine or berberine plus chelerythrine. Compound C or H-89 for 5 days, disaccharidase activities, and SI complex mRNA levels were measured. The animal experiments showed that berberine significantly decreased the disaccharidase activities and SI complex mRNA expression both in diabetic rats and normal rats. Berberine can also significantly lower postprandial blood glucose levels induced by sucrose or maltose loading in normal rats. The cellular results showed that berberine may suppress disaccharidase activities and downregulate SI complex mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Only H-89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), may reverse the decrease in disaccharidase activities and SI complex mRNA expression induced by berberine. In conclusion, berberine suppresses disaccharidase activities and SI complex mRNA expression with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic states. The inhibitory effect, at least partly, involves the PKA-dependent pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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