title: Protective effects of berberine against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and oxidized LDL-induced cytotoxicity on endothelial cells.
abstract: The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is thought to have a central role in the pathogenesis of atherogenesis. Berberine, a natural constituent of plants of the genera Coptis and Berberis, has several anti-inflammation and anticancer biological effects. However, its protective effects on LDL oxidation and endothelial injury induced by oxLDL remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative activity of berberine and how berberine rescues human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from oxidized LDL (oxLDL)-mediated dysfunction. The antioxidative activity of berberine was defined by the relative electrophoretic mobility of oxLDL, fragmentation of ApoB, and malondialdehyde production via the Cu(2+)-mediated oxidation of LDL. Berberine also inhibited the generation of ROS and the subsequent mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, chromosome condensation, cytochrome C release, and caspase-3 activation induced by oxLDL in HUVECs. Our results suggest that berberine may protect LDL oxidation and prevent oxLDL-induced cellular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Section 1, Chien Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yih-Shou
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Wu-Hsien
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Ta-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Horng-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Teseng-His
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pei-Ni
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D001599:Berberine; D003300:Copper