Berberine attenuates hepatic steatosis and enhances energy expenditure in mice by inducing autophagy and fibroblast growth factor 21.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Berberine, a compound from rhizome coptidis, is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal infections, such as bacterial diarrhoea. Recently, berberine was shown to have hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects. We investigated the mechanisms by which berberine regulates hepatic lipid metabolism and energy expenditure in mice.

Experimental approach

Liver-specific SIRT1 knockout mice and their wild-type littermates were fed a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet and treated with berberine by i.p. injection for five weeks. Mouse primary hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells were treated with berberine and then subjected to immunoblotting analysis and Oil Red O staining.

Key results

Berberine attenuated hepatic steatosis and controlled energy balance i

SUBMITTER: Sun Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5758394 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature