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. 2018 Dec 19:2018:8930374.
doi: 10.1155/2018/8930374. eCollection 2018.

Hypoglycemic Mechanism of the Berberine Organic Acid Salt under the Synergistic Effect of Intestinal Flora and Oxidative Stress

Hong-Xin Cui  1   2 , Ya-Nan Hu  1 , Jing-Wan Li  3 , Ke Yuan  4
Affiliations

Hypoglycemic Mechanism of the Berberine Organic Acid Salt under the Synergistic Effect of Intestinal Flora and Oxidative Stress

Hong-Xin Cui et al. Oxid Med Cell Longev. .

Abstract

Both alterations to the intestinal microflora and chronic systemic inflammation predispose towards type 2 diabetes (T2D). Changes in the composition of the intestinal microflora are associated with glucose metabolism changes in rats with T2D. Here, we demonstrate that a berberine fumarate (BF) has a hypoglycemic effect by regulating the intestinal microflora and metabolism of diabetic rats. The T2D rats had disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, an abnormal intestinal microflora, fewer butyrate-producing and probiotic-type bacteria, larger numbers of potentially pathogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria, and tissue inflammation. Administration of berberine fumarate significantly ameliorated the metabolic disorder; increased the populations of Bacteroidetes, Clostridia, Lactobacillales, Prevotellaceae, and Alloprevotella; and reduced those of Bacteroidales, Lachnospiraceae, Rikenellaceae, and Desulfovibrio. In addition, it reduced inflammation, inhibiting the overexpression of TLR4 and p-JNK and increasing the expression of PI3K, GLUT2, and other proteins, which are closely related to oxidative stress, thereby promoting the metabolism of glucose.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The effect of BF on the plasma index of T2D rats. The data were expressed as mean ± SD (n = 8), ∗ P < 0.05 and ∗∗ P < 0.01 vs T2D group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect of BF on the structure of intestinal flora of T2D rats. (a, b) Analysis of alpha diversity; (c) analysis of beta diversity; (d–h) the relative abundances of main species under different levels (phylum, class, order, family, and genus). n = 5, ∗ P < 0.05 and ∗∗ P < 0.01.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The results of Western blot and RT-PCR. (b) Signal pathways, “↑,” activation and “T,” inhibition. The data were expressed as mean ± SD (n = 8), ∗ P < 0.05 and ∗∗ P < 0.01 vs T2D group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The protective effect of BF on liver, pancreas, and ileum of T2D rats (hematoxylin-eosin stain, ×200).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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