Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
08:58
Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis
Published on: January 5, 2017
13.0K
Berberine Attenuates Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Rats
Jing Gong1, Meilin Hu1, Zhaoyi Huang2
1Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan, China.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
|February 21, 2017
Summary
Berberine (BBR) improves type 2 diabetes by enhancing the intestinal barrier and regulating gut hormones. This study shows BBR alleviates hyperglycemia and gut inflammation in diabetic rats.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction is implicated in diabetes mellitus (DM) development.
- Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, shows efficacy in managing DM and diarrhea.
- This study investigates BBR's anti-diabetic effects through the lens of intestinal mucosal barrier function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between Berberine's anti-diabetic effects and the intestinal mucosal barrier.
- To evaluate BBR's impact on gut-derived hormones and intestinal permeability in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of T2DM was induced using a high-fat, high-glucose diet and streptozocin injection.
- Diabetic rats were treated with varying concentrations of BBR for nine weeks.
- Intestinal permeability, gut-derived hormones, inflammatory markers, and key signaling pathways (TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Diabetic rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, intestinal inflammation, altered gut hormones, and increased intestinal permeability.
- BBR treatment significantly improved glycemic and lipid levels, reduced intestinal inflammation, and attenuated barrier damage.
- High-dose BBR decreased intestinal permeability by 27.5% and modulated TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway molecules.
Conclusions:
- Berberine's hypoglycemic effects may stem from improved gut-derived hormone profiles.
- BBR demonstrates potential in mitigating intestinal mucosal barrier damage and immune dysfunction in T2DM.
- These findings suggest BBR as a therapeutic agent targeting both metabolic and gastrointestinal health in diabetes.
