Effects of Berberine on Amelioration of Hyperglycemia and Oxidative Stress in High Glucose and High Fat Diet-Induced Diabetic Hamsters In Vivo.

This study investigated the effects of berberine on amelioration of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and the mechanism involved
in high glucose and high fat diet-induced diabetic hamsters.Golden hamsters fedwith high glucose and high fat dietweremedicated
with metformin, simvastatin, and low or high dose of berberine (50 and 100mg⋅kg−1) for 6 weeks. The results showed that the
body weights were significantly lower in berberine-treated groups than control group. Histological analyses revealed that the
treatment of berberine inhibited hepatic fat accumulation. Berberine significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride,
free fatty acid, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, malondialdehyde, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, and 8-isoprostane
level but significantly increased plasma superoxide dismutase activity. Glucose and insulin levels were significantly reduced in
metformin and berberine-treated groups. Glucose tolerance tests documented that berberine-treated mice were more glucose
tolerant. Berberine treatment increased expression of skeletalmuscle glucose transporter 4mRNA and significantly decreased liver
low density lipoprotein receptor mRNA expression. The study suggested that berberine was effective in lowering blood glucose
and lipids levels, reducing the body weight, and alleviating the oxidative stress in diabetic hamsters, which might be beneficial in
reducing the cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes.

Cong Liu,1 Zhuo Wang,2 Yulong Song,3 DanWu,1 Xuan Zheng,1
Ping Li,1 Jin Jin,2 Nannan Xu,2 and Ling Li1
1Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
2Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100037, China
3Department of Anesthesiology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, China