title: The Potential Mechanisms of Berberine in the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a globally observed metabolic disease with high prevalence both in adults and children. However, there is no efficient medication available yet. Increased evidence indicates that berberine (BBR), a natural plant product, has beneficial effects on NAFLD, though the mechanisms are not completely known. In this review, we briefly summarize the pathogenesis of NAFLD and factors that influence the progression of NAFLD, and focus on the potential mechanisms of BBR in the treatment of NAFLD. Increase of insulin sensitivity, regulation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, improvement of mitochondrial function, alleviation of oxidative stress, LDLR mRNA stabilization, and regulation of gut microenvironment are the major targets of BBR in the treatment of NAFLD. Additionally, reduction of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) expression and DNA methylation are also involved in pharmacological mechanisms of berberine in the treatment of NAFLD. The immunologic mechanism of BBR in the treatment of NAFLD, development of berberine derivative, drug combinations, delivery routes, and drug dose can be considered in the future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. zhuxp200@foxmail.com.|Institute of Metabolic Disease, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. zhuxp200@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. bianhuaer@126.com.|Institute of Metabolic Disease, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. bianhuaer@126.com.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. zhongshan_endo@126.com.|Institute of Metabolic Disease, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. zhongshan_endo@126.com.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase; berberine; insulin resistance; mechanism; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease