title: Cardioprotective effect of berberine against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis.
abstract: Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid originally isolated from the Chinese herb Coptischinensis, has been shown to display a wide range of pharmacological effects. The present study aims to investigate the effect of berberine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized equally into three groups: sham group, IR group, IR + berberine group. Rats were treated with berberine for 4 weeks and then I/R was performed. Myocardial infarction area was measured. Serum levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were assayed. Myocardial apoptosis was detected by terminal dexynucleotidyltransferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Mitochondrial function, including MMP and complex I activity, was assayed. Besides, the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and cytochrome c were detected by Western blot. Our results suggested that berberine decreased myocardial infarction area, and decreased serum levels of CK-MB, LDH and cTnI. Berberine attenuates myocardial apoptosis and improved mitochondrial dysfunction. Berberine up-regulates the expression of Bcl-2 and mitochondrial cytochrome c and down-regulates the expression of Bax and cytosolic cytochrome c. In conclusion, berberine protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury via attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and myocardial apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hebei Chest Hospital Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hebei Chest Hospital Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hebei Chest Hospital Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Airui
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hebei Chest Hospital Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Yanqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Berberine; apoptosis; mitochondria dysfunction; myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury