Abstract
Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid with multiple beneficial therapeutic effects. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of berberine against methotrexate (MTX)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain of rats. Rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of MTX (20 mg/kg) and orally administered 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg body weight berberine for 7 days. MTX-induced rats showed significantly increased lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels in the cerebrum. Treatment of the MTX-induced rats with berberine produced a significant decrease in cerebral levels of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide. In addition, berberine induced a significant increase in reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in the cerebrum of MTX-induced rats. Rats received MTX showed a significant up-regulation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) expression in the cerebrum, an effect that was significantly reversed following treatment with berberine. In conclusion, berberine protects against MTX-induced neurotoxicity through attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, and boosting the antioxidant defenses.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 43-49 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 1 2017 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Berberine
- Inflammation
- Methotrexate
- Oxidative stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacology (medical)