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Atheroprotective Effects and Molecular Mechanism of Berberine
Lu Xing1, Xin Zhou1, Ai-Hong Li2
1Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease, Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Insights
Berberine (BBR) effectively combats atherosclerosis by addressing multiple factors like dyslipidemia and inflammation. This natural compound offers a promising therapeutic avenue for cardiovascular disease management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular medicine
- Pharmacology
- Natural product research
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global cause of death.
- Atherosclerosis, the primary pathology of CVDs, involves hyperlipidemia, endothelial injury, foam cell formation, VSMC proliferation, platelet aggregation, and gut microbiota changes.
- Current atherosclerosis treatments have limitations, including long-term administration and adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms of Berberine (BBR).
- To highlight recent advances in understanding BBR's therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis.
- To provide a scientific perspective on BBR for atherosclerosis management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advances in BBR's anti-atherosclerosis mechanisms.
- Analysis of BBR's effects on key pathological aspects of atherosclerosis.
- Synthesis of current scientific understanding of BBR's molecular mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Berberine (BBR) attenuates dyslipidemia and corrects endothelial dysfunction.
- BBR inhibits macrophage inflammation and foam cell formation while activating autophagy.
- BBR regulates vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration and reduces platelet aggregation.
- BBR modulates gut microbiota composition, impacting atherosclerosis progression.
Conclusions:
- Berberine (BBR) demonstrates multifaceted anti-atherosclerosis effects.
- BBR offers a promising natural compound for managing atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases.
- Further research into BBR's molecular mechanisms can inform novel therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases and it is closely associated with hyperlipidemia, endothelial injury, macrophage-derived foam cells formation, proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), platelet aggregation, and altered gut microbiota. Various symptomatic treatments, that are currently used to inhibit atherosclerosis, need to be administered in long term and their adverse effects cannot be ignored. Berberine (BBR) has beneficial effects on atherosclerosis through regulating multiple aspects of its progression. This review highlights the recent advances in understanding the anti-atherosclerosis mechanism of BBR. BBR alleviated atherosclerosis by attenuation of dyslipidemia, correction of endothelial dysfunction, inhibition of macrophage inflammation and foam cell formation, activation of macrophage autophagy, regulation of the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, attenuation of platelet aggregation, and modulation of gut microbiota. This review would provide a modern scientific perspective to further understanding the molecular mechanism of BBR attenuating atherosclerosis and supply new ideas for atherosclerosis management.
