title: Effects of berberine on hippocampal neuronal damage and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity following transient global cerebral ischemia.
abstract: Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid with a long history of use in Chinese medicine, has several important pharmacological effects. Several studies have revealed that berberine has neuroprotective and neuropsychiatric effects. However, there are few reports regarding the protective effect of berberine against neuronal damage following transient global cerebral ischemia. In this study, mice were subjected to 20 min of global brain ischemia and sacrificed 72 hr later. Berberine was administered for 7 days prior to ischemia and daily until sacrifice. Mice treated with berberine showed reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. Berberine inhibited gelatinase activity directly in in situ zymography and reduced neuronal damage following global ischemia. Laminin expression and NeuN expression were markedly reduced in CA1 and CA2 areas after ischemia, and berberine reduced the laminin degradation and neuronal loss. In the TUNEL assay, damaged neurons were also apparent in the CA1 and CA2 areas, and berberine reduced TUNEL-positive cells. These data demonstrate that berberine, a plant alkaloid, may protect from hippocampal neuronal damage following transient global ischemia by reducing MMP-9 activity.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, and Brain Research Institute, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Taegu, Korea.
authors: Jeong-Seok
authors: JS
authors: Hong
authors: Yeun-Kyung
authors: YK
authors: Chu
authors: Hyung
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Byung-Hoon
authors: BH
authors: Ahn
authors: Jae-Hyung
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Mi-Jung
authors: MJ
authors: Kim
authors: Sunghye
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Ho-Sang
authors: HS
authors: Ryoo
authors: Jung-Hee
authors: JH
authors: Jang
authors: Seong-Ryong
authors: SR
authors: Lee
authors: Jong-Wook
authors: JW
authors: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001599:Berberine; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9