title: [Experimental study on berberin raised insulin sensitivity in insulin resistance rat models].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of berberin on insulin sensitivity in high fat diet rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before and after ingesting berberin, glucose insulin tolerance test was used to measure the insulin sensitivity, and determining fasting blood glucose, insulin, blood lipid and muscle triglyceride content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with normal feeding rats, high fat feeding impaired insulin action (5.02 +/- 1.08 vs 8.72 +/- 0.91, P < 0.005), decreased liver glycogen level and raised fasting blood glucose, insulin and blood lipid levels. Berberin and metformin improved insulin resistance (6.31 +/- 0.95 and 6.24 +/- 0.65) and liver glycogen level in insulin resistance models, but had no effect on blood glucose, insulin, lipid levels and muscle triglyceride depots.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is confirmed that berberin could raise insulin sensitivity of high fat diet rats similar to metformin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Changhai Hospital.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Q L
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D001599:Berberine; D008687:Metformin