Anti-inflammatory potential of berberine-rich extract via modulation of inflammation biomarkers

Berberine Alleviates Uterine Inflammation in Rats via Modulating the TLR-2/p-PI3K/p-AKT Axis

Uterine inflammation affects 8% of women in the United States and 32% in developing nations, often caused by uncontrolled inflammation and oxidative stress. This condition significantly impacts women's health, productivity, and quality of life, and increases the risk of related morbidities leading to higher healthcare costs. Research now focuses on natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, particularly berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities. The present study sought to examine the potential therapeutic efficacy of BBR against uterine inflammation induced by the intrauterine infusion of an iodine (I2) mixture in an experimental setting. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6) were divided into five groups, control, sham, I2, I2 and BBR 10 mg/kg, and I2 and BBR 25 mg/kg-treated groups. Compared to I2 infusion, BBR treatment effectively restored normal uterine histopathology and reduced inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), and myeloperoxidase (MPO). It lowered oxidative markers like malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). It balanced apoptotic genes by upregulating B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and downregulating Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). Furthermore, BBR reduced the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (p-PI3K), and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) in the rats treated with intrauterine I2. Ultimately, the therapeutic benefits of BBR can be attributed, to some extent, to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties, in addition to its ability to modulate the TLR-2/p-PI3K/p-AKT axis.

Oral Administration of Berberine Hydrochloride Based on Chitosan/Carboxymethyl-β-Cyclodextrin Hydrogel

In this study, a novel oral formulation of berberine hydrochloride (BBH) hydrogel was successfully synthesized through physical cross-linking using chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD). The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of the CS/CMCD hydrogel and the subsequent loading of BBH into this composite (CS/CMCD/BBH) was effectively accomplished. The BBH was used as a model drug and the resulting hydrogel demonstrated a sustained drug release profile. In addition to its improved solubility and sustained release characteristics, the hydrogel exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against common pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Additionally, in vitro studies indicated that the hydrogel was not cytotoxic to NIH3T3 and HaCaT cells, suggesting its safety for biomedical applications. This lack of cytotoxic effects, combined with the mechanical strength, solubility improvements, and antibacterial properties of the hydrogel, positions the CS/CMCD/BBH hydrogel as a promising candidate for the effective oral delivery of BBH. By addressing the solubility and delivery challenges of BBH, this hydrogel offers a viable solution for the oral administration of BBH, with potential applications in various biomedical fields.

Natural compounds improve diabetic nephropathy by regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a severe complication of diabetes, is widely recognized as a primary contributor to end-stage renal disease. Recent studies indicate that the inflammation triggered by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is of paramount importance in the onset and progression of DN. TLR4 can bind to various ligands, including exogenous ligands such as proteins and polysaccharides from bacteria or viruses, as well as endogenous ligands such as biglycan, fibrinogen, and hyaluronan. In DN, the expression or release of TLR4-related ligands is significantly elevated, resulting in excessive TLR4 activation and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines through downstream signaling pathways. This process is closely associated with the progression of DN. Natural compounds are biologically active products derived from natural sources that have advantages in the treatment of certain diseases. Various types of natural compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, glycosides, and polysaccharides, have demonstrated their ability to improve DN by affecting the TLR4 signaling pathway. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of action of TLR4 in DN and the natural compounds that can ameliorate DN by modulating the TLR4 signaling pathway. We specifically highlight the potential of compounds such as curcumin, paclitaxel, berberine, and ursolic acid to inhibit the TLR4 signaling pathway, which provides an important direction of research for the treatment of DN.

Biochemical Investigation of Therapeutic Efficacy of Berberine-Enriched Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Metabolic Impairment

Metabolic disorders pose significant global health challenges, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches. This study focused on the multifaceted therapeutic potential of berberine-enriched extract (BEE) in mitigating metabolic impairment induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in a rat model and compared the effects of BEE with berberine (BBR) and metformin (MET) to comprehensively evaluate their impact on various biochemical parameters. Our investigation reveals that BEE surpasses the effects of BBR and MET in ameliorating metabolic impairment, making it a promising candidate for managing metabolic disorders. For this, 30 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 6): control (CN), STZ, STZ + MET, STZ + BBR, and STZ + BEE. The treatment duration was extended over 4 weeks, during which various biochemical parameters were monitored, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profiles, inflammation, liver and kidney function biomarkers, and gene expressions of various metabolizing enzymes. The induction of metabolic impairment by STZ was evident through an elevated FBG level and disrupted lipid profiles. The enriched extract effectively regulated glucose homeostasis, as evidenced by the restoration of FBG levels, superior to both BBR and MET. Furthermore, BEE demonstrated potent effects on insulin sensitivity, upregulating the key genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism: GCK, IGF-1, and GLUT2. This highlights its potential in enhancing glucose utilization and insulin responsiveness. Dyslipidemia, a common occurrence in metabolic disorders, was effectively managed by BEE. The extract exhibited superior efficacy in regulating lipid profiles. Additionally, BEE exhibited significant anti-inflammatory properties, surpassing the effects of BBR and MET in lowering the levels of inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby ameliorating insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. The extract's superior hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects, indicated by the restoration of liver and kidney function biomarkers, further highlight its potential in maintaining organ health. Moreover, BEE demonstrated potent antioxidant properties, reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue homogenates. Histopathological examination of the pancreas underscored the protective effects of BEE, preserving and recovering pancreatic β-cells damaged by STZ. This collective evidence positions BEE as a promising therapeutic candidate for managing metabolic disorders and offers potential benefits beyond current treatments. In conclusion, our findings emphasize the remarkable therapeutic efficacy of BEE and provide a foundation for further research into its mechanisms, long-term safety, and clinical translation.

Research progress on antidepressant effects and mechanisms of berberine

Depression, a global health problem with growing prevalence, brings serious impacts on the daily life of patients. However, the antidepressants currently used in clinical are not perfectly effective, which greatly reduces the compliance of patients. Berberine is a natural quaternary alkaloid which has been shown to have a variety of pharmacological effects, such as hypoglycemic, lipid-regulation, anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant. This review summarizes the evidence of pharmacological applications of berberine in treating depression and elucidates the mechanisms of berberine regulating neurotransmitter levels, promoting the regeneration of hippocampal neurons, improving hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction, anti-oxidative stress, and suppressing inflammatory status in order to provide a reference for further research and clinical application of berberine.

Biochemical profiling of berberine-enriched extract in aluminum chloride induced oxidative damage and neuroinflammation

Despite the numerous treatment strategies used for Alzheimer's disease (AD), only a few cholinesterase inhibitor drugs, such as memantine, are effective in symptomatically relieving the hallmarks of AD, providing momentary recovery of memory and cognitive decline. These available drugs do not treat the underlying causes of AD, and their chronic use is associated with serious adverse effects and disease progression. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has been reported to possess therapeutic potential against AD. Therefore, its activity was evaluated against an aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced AD rat model, and a berberine-enriched extract (BEE) was used to determine if its activity is equivalent to pure berberine (PB). The rats were administered 300 mg/kg of oral AlCl3 to induce AD and were then treated with oral PB at a dosage of 50 mg/kg, BEE at a dosage of 50 mg/kg, and rivastigmine at a dosage of 1 mg/kg as a standard drug for 21 days. In this study, various parameters were assessed to evaluate cognitive functions, such as behavioral analysis, antioxidant enzyme levels, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, proinflammatory cytokine levels, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of different biomarkers (AChE, IL-1α, IL-1β, BACE-1, TNF-α) linked to AD, and histopathological changes in the rats' brains. After 21 days, the disease control group showed a significant decline in cognitive function, decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes, upregulated activity of the AChE enzyme, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and marked elevation in mRNA expression of AD-associated biomarkers. On the other hand, the treatment groups showed significant improvements in memory deficits, elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes, reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, decreased AChE activity, and significant downregulation of the expression of predefined biomarkers. Histological examination of the treatment groups showed less neuroinflammation and fewer amyloid plaques compared to the disease control group. In conclusion, both PB and BEE have comparable neuroprotective potential to mitigate the pathological hallmarks of AD. However, controlled clinical trials are needed to assess their efficacy and safety.