Berberine Ameliorates Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Damage Induced by Peritoneal Air Exposure

Shanjun Tan; Wenkui Yu; Zhiliang Lin; Qiyi Chen; Jialiang Shi; Yi Dong; Kaipeng Duan; Xiaowu Bai; Lin Xu; Zhen Yu; Jieshou Li; Ning Li

doi:10.1248/bpb.b14-00643

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Berberine Ameliorates Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Damage Induced by Peritoneal Air Exposure

Shanjun Tan, Wenkui Yu, Zhiliang Lin, Qiyi Chen, Jialiang Shi, Yi Dong, Kaipeng Duan, Xiaowu Bai, Lin Xu, Zhen Yu, Jieshou Li, Ning Li

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Shanjun Tan
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Wenkui Yu
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Zhiliang Lin
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Qiyi Chen
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Jialiang Shi
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Yi Dong
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Kaipeng Duan
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Xiaowu Bai
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University
Lin Xu
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Nanjing, Second Military Medical University
Zhen Yu
Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University
Jieshou Li
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University
Ning Li Corresponding author
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University

Keywords: berberine, open abdominal surgery, intestinal mucosal barrier, peritoneal cavity, animal experiment

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2015 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 122-126

DOI https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b14-00643

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Abstract

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from many medicinal plants, has been extensively used to treat various gastrointestinal diseases. In the present study, we investigated whether berberine could ameliorate intestinal mucosal barrier damage induced by peritoneal air exposure for 3 h. Peritoneal air-exposure rats received 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg berberine orally via gavage four times before and after surgery. Blood and terminal ileum samples were collected 24 h after surgery. The serum D-lactate levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Intestinal permeability was determined by measuring the intestinal clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)–dextran (FD4). Intestinal inflammation was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase activity. Intestinal histopathology was also assessed. The results revealed that berberine decreased the serum D-lactate level, intestinal FD4 clearance, and myeloperoxidase activity. Edema and inflammation were reduced by berberine in the intestinal mucosa and submucosa, and the Chiu’s scores, indices of intestinal mucosal injury, also decreased in the berberine-treated group. In addition, berberine exerted these protective effects in a dose-dependent manner, with a significant difference from the control group at doses of 150 and 200 mg/kg. The results suggest that berberine could ameliorate intestinal mucosal barrier damage induced by peritoneal air exposure, which is linked to its anti-inflammatory activity. Berberine may be a promising treatment for intestinal mucosal barrier damage in open abdominal surgery.

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