Protective effect of berberine on beta cells in streptozotocin- and high-carbohydrate/high-fat diet-induced diabetic rats

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 606; no. 1; pp. 262 - 268
• Main Authors: Zhou, Jiyin, Zhou, Shiwen, Tang, Jianlin, Zhang, Kebin, Guang, Lixia, Huang, Yongping, Xu, Ying, Ying, Yi, Zhang, Le, Li, Dandan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.03.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Berberine; Berberine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - chemically induced; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - pathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - prevention & control; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Dietary Carbohydrates - adverse effects; Dietary Fats - adverse effects; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) - metabolism; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Hematoxylin - metabolism; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin-Secreting Cells - drug effects; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Insulin-Secreting Cells - ultrastructure; Male; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Pancreas; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reference Standards; Staining and Labeling; Streptozocin; Structure; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; β cell; Berberine; β cell; Pancreas; Structure; Insulin; Diabetes mellitus; Endocrinopathy; Antineoplastic agent; Pancreatic hormone; Rat; Rodentia; Antidiarrheal agent; Lipids; Feeding; Prevention; Alkaloid; Vertebrata; Antibiotic; Mammalia; Diet; Animal; Fat; Carbohydrate; β Cell; Streptozotocin
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.12.056

Oxidative stress in diabetes coexists with a reduction in the antioxidant status, which can further increase the deleterious effects of free radicals. Berberine is one of the main alkaloids of Rhizoma coptidis which has been used to treat diabetes for more than 1400 years in China. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of berberine against β cell damage and antioxidant of pancreas in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats with hyperlipidemia were induced by intraperitoneally injection 35 mg/kg streptozotocin and a high-carbohydrate/high-fat diet. Rats were divided into 7 groups at the end of week 16: untreated control, untreated diabetic, 75, 150, 300 mg/kg berberine-treated diabetic, 100 mg/kg fenofibrate-treated, and 4 mg/kg rosiglitazone-treated. After 16 weeks treatment, serum insulin level, insulin expression in pancreas, and malonaldehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity in pancreatic homogenate were assayed. Pancreas was examined by hematoxylin/eosin staining and transmission electron microscope. Pancreas to body weight ratio, insulin level, insulin sensitivity index, malonaldehyde content and superoxide dismutase activity were altered in diabetic rats, and were near control levels treated with 150, 300 mg/kg berberine. Mitochondrial vacuolization and swelling, dilatation of the endoplasmic reticulum were observed in β cells of diabetic rats. The pancreatic islet area atrophied and secretory granules of β cells decreased in diabetic rats. Slight pathological changes existed in β cells of 150, 300 mg/kg berberine-treated diabetic pancreas. These findings suggest that berberine has protective effect for diabetes through increasing insulin expression, β cell regeneration, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing lipid peroxidation.