Possible therapeutic potential of berberine in the treatment of STZ plus HFD-induced diabetic osteoporosis

Publication date: December 2018Source: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Volume 108Author(s): Huanguang Xie, Qingqing Wang, Xinyue Zhang, Te Wang, Wei Hu, Theasha Manicum, Hua Chen, Liaojun SunAbstractDiabetic osteoporosis is a complication of diabetes mellitus, and can result in an increased incidence of bone fractures and a delay in fracture healing. Berberine is one of the most widely distributed isoquinoline alkaloid in plants and possesses antioxidant properties. These properties can reduce the high glucose mediated in the dysfunction of human bone marrow stem cells. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the apparent beneficial effect of berberine on bone characteristics in streptozotocin plus HFD-induced diabetic rats. Rats were selected at random and divided into four groups: (A) control group (CG) (n = 10); (B) diabetic group (DG) (n = 10); (C) diabetic group with 50 mg kg−1day−1 of berberine (Brb-50) (n = 10); and (D) diabetic group with 100 mg kg−1day−1 of berberine (Brb-100) (n = 10). After 12 weeks of being treated with berberine, the femora from all rats were assessed and other blood biochemistries evaluated. Berberine at 50 mg/kg showed little effect and significance on diabetic osteopenia, while berberine at 100 mg/kg was significantly increased in diabetic rats. The same group also displayed a significantly decreased serum osteocalcin and serum alkaline phosphatase activity in diabetic rats. The impaired micr...
Source: Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research