title: Effects of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system, and liver damage induced by lead acetate in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver is considered a target organ affected by lead toxicity. Oxidative stress is among the mechanisms involved in liver damage. Here we investigated the effects of the natural alkaloid berberine on oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity induced by lead in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals received an aqueous solution of lead acetate (500 mg Pb/l in the drinking water) and/or daily oral gavage of berberine (50 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Rats were then weighed and used for the biochemical, molecular, and histological evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lead-induced oxidative stress, shown by increasing lipid peroxidation along with a concomitant decrease in hepatic levels of thiol groups, total antioxidant capacity, the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase, and reduced versus oxidized glutathione ratio. Berberine corrected all the disturbances in oxidative stress markers induced by lead administration. Berberine also prevented the elevated levels of enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) and the decrease in body weight and albumin. The protective effects of berberine were comparable with silymarin. Furthermore, berberine attenuated liver damage, shown by decreased necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine represents a potential therapeutic option against lead-induced hepatotoxicity through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant defenses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine exerted protective effects on lead-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats.
authors: a Department of Biology , School of Basic Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University , Hamedan , Iran.
authors: Parisa
authors: P
authors: Hasanein
authors: a Department of Biology , School of Basic Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University , Hamedan , Iran.
authors: Masumeh
authors: M
authors: Ghafari-Vahed
authors: b Department of Medical Biochemistry , School of Medicine, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
authors: Iraj
authors: I
authors: Khodadadi
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D001599:Berberine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C008261:lead acetate
keywords: Berberine; Hepatotoxicity; Lead; Liver; Oxidative stress; Rats