Modulatory Effects of Berberine Chloride on Lipid Profile, Oxidant Status and Insulin Signaling Molecules in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Berberine chloride (BC) on lipid profile, oxidant status and insulin signaling molecules in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat model. Diabetes was induced in rats by a single dose of intraperitoneal administration of STZ (40 mg/kg b.w). Diabetic rats were treated with BC (50 mg/kg b.w) and glibenclamide (6 mg/kg b.w) for 45 days. BC treated diabetic rats showed significant (<0.05) decrease in the levels of TC, TG, phospholipids, LDL, VLDL and lipid peroxidation markers such as LOOH and TBARS. An increase in enzymatic antioxidant (SOD, CAT and GPx), non-enzymatic antioxidant (GSH, vitamin C and E) and insulin signaling molecules expression, like Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), Protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) were found to be significantly raised in BC treated STZ induced diabetic rats. Thus, the results of the current study demonstrated that BC significantly reversed the abnormal levels of lipids, oxidant status and insulin signaling molecules in the diabetic rat model, which may be contributed to its anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities.