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. 2014 May;4(Suppl 1):S429-35.
doi: 10.12980/APJTB.4.2014C474.

Metabolic effects of berberine on liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in rats fed on high lipogenic diet: an additional mechanism for the hypolipidemic effects of berberine

Esfandiar Heidarian  1 , Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei  2 , Abolfazle Khoshdel  3 , Morteza Bakhshesh  4
Affiliations

Metabolic effects of berberine on liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in rats fed on high lipogenic diet: an additional mechanism for the hypolipidemic effects of berberine

Esfandiar Heidarian et al. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014 May.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of berberine (BBR) on the liver phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP) and plasma lipids in rats fed on high lipogenic and normal diet.

Methods: Forty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group I (control) received standard diet. Group II received standard diet plus 90 mg/kg BBR and Groups IV received lipogenic diet (containing sunflower oil, cholesterol and ethanol) without treatment. Groups III and V received lipogenic diet plus 90 mg/kg BBR and 30 mg/kg gemfibrozil, respectively. On Day 60 of the experiment, blood samples were collected and PAP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein, malondialdehyde, plasma antioxidant, and liver histopathology assessments were conducted.

Results: PAP, plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein, and malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) in Group III compared to Group IV (24.94%, 36.11%, 21.18%, 36.86% and 19.59%, respectively). The liver triglyceride and cholesterol in Groups III and V had a remarkable decrease (P<0.001) compared with Group IV (24.94% and 49.13%, respectively). There was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in atherogenic index in Groups III compared with Group IV.

Conclusions: These results clearly suggested that BBR could be effective in reducing liver PAP, lipid abnormality, liver triglyceride and lateral side effects of hyperlipidemia.

Keywords: Atherogenic index; Fatty liver; Flavonoid; Lipid profile; Lipogenic diet; Oxidative stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Plasma malondialdehyde level in experimental groups.
The data were expressed as Mean±SD; n=8 in each group. Group I: Normal diet; Group II: Normal diet supplemented with 90 mg/kg body weight BBR; Group III: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with 90 mg/kg body weight BBR; Group IV: Hyperlipidemic rats without treatment; Group V: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with 30 mg/kg body weight gemfibrozyl. *: P<0.05 compared with the corresponding value for Group I; †: P<0.05 compared with the corresponding value for Group IV; #: P<0.05 compared with the corresponding value for Group V.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Plasma FRAP in experimental groups.
The data were expressed as Mean±SD; n=8 in each group. Group I: Normal diet; Group II: Normal diet supplemented with 90 mg/kg body weight BBR; Group III: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with 90 mg/kg body weight BBR; Group IV: Hyperlipidemic rats without treatment; Group V: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with 30 mg/kg body weight gemfibrozyl. *: P<0.05 compared with the corresponding value for Group I; †: P<0.05 compared with the corresponding value for Group IV; #: P<0.05 compared with the corresponding value for Group V.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Effects of high-fat feeding and berberine traetment on liver histology of the experimental groups.
A: Control group; B: Rats treated with normal diet and 90 mg/kg body weight BBR; C: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with 90 mg/kg body weight BBR; D and E: Hyperlipidemic rats without treatment (arrows show lipid droplets); F: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with 30 mg/kg body weight gemfibrozyl.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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