Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common type of vaginitis. Berberine is a natural alkaline product that reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis in cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of berberine on oxidative stress and apoptotic rates of BV. Vaginal epithelial and discharge samples were obtained from 60 healthy individuals and 180 patients with BV before and after one month of berberine treatment. Clinical observation was documented for all patients before and after treatment for comparison. Additionally, an study was performed; the samples were divided into groups the following groups: Control, model (HO-treated), LT (low-dose berberine), MT (medium-dose berberine) and HT (high-dose berberine). Expression levels of the oxidative stress related proteins were detected by western blotting. Clinical symptoms of patients with BV significantly improved following berberine treatment. Oxidative stress in vaginal discharge was significantly lower following treatment, indicated by the increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, as well as the reduced levels of malondialdehyde and HO. Apoptosis of the vaginal epithelial cells was also reduced, which was indicated by the reduced expression of apoptosis proteins caspase-3, cytochrome C, capase-12 and Bax, and increased expression of Bcl-2. The results of the experiments demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in apoptosis with berberine treatment compared with levels before treatment. Oxidative stress relief was demonstrated by the reduced reactive oxygen species level and increased SOD and endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels, whereas suppression of apoptosis was further supported by the reduction in apoptotic proteins, as well as a decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Berberine exhibited effects on lowering oxidative stress in vaginal discharge and reducing oxidative damage, as well as apoptosis of the vaginal epithelium, which are beneficial to patients with bacterial vaginosis.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6676195PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7772DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

oxidative stress
24
apoptosis vaginal
12
bacterial vaginosis
12
berberine treatment
12
berberine
10
vaginal epithelium
8
vaginal epithelial
8
treatment oxidative
8
stress vaginal
8
vaginal discharge
8

Similar Publications

Exploring the role of oxidative stress in carotid atherosclerosis: insights from transcriptomic data and single-cell sequencing combined with machine learning.

Biol Direct

January 2025

National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China.

Background: Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is the primary cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is closely related to oxidative stress and immune inflammation. This bioinformatic study was conducted to identify key oxidative stress-related genes and key immune cell infiltration involved in the formation, progression, and stabilization of plaques and investigate the relationship between them.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

From micro to macro, nanotechnology demystifies acute pancreatitis: a new generation of treatment options emerges.

J Nanobiotechnology

January 2025

Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease characterized by an acute inflammatory response in the pancreas. This is caused by the abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes by a variety of etiologic factors, which results in a localized inflammatory response. The symptoms of this disease include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and fever.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cotton is essential for the global textile industry however, climate change, especially extreme temperatures, threatens sustainable cotton production. This research aims to identify breeding strategies to improve heat tolerance and utilize stress-resistant traits in cotton cultivars. This study investigated heat tolerance for 50 cotton genotypes at the seedling stage by examining various traits at three temperatures (32 °C, 45 °C and 48 °C) in a randomized plot experiment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The prospective therapeutic benefits of sesamol: neuroprotection in neurological diseases.

Nutr Neurosci

January 2025

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, People's Republic of China.

Oxidative stress is recognized as a critical contributor to the advancement of neurological diseases, thereby rendering the alleviation of oxidative stress a pivotal strategy in the therapeutic management of such conditions. Sesamol, the principal constituent of sesame oil, has been the subject of extensive research due to its significant antioxidant properties, especially its ability to effectively counteract oxidative stress within the central nervous system and confer neuroprotection. While sesamol demonstrates potential in the treatment and prevention of neurological diseases, its modulation of oxidative stress is complex and not yet fully understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cadmium Pollution Deteriorates the Muscle Quality of Labeo rohita by Altering Its Nutrients and Intestinal Microbiota Diversity.

Biol Trace Elem Res

January 2025

Yunnan Collaborative Innovation Center for Plateau Lake Ecology and Environmental Health, College of Agronomy and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming, 650214, China.

The detrimental effects of cadmium (Cd), a hazardous heavy metal, on fish have triggered global concerns. While the ecotoxicity of Cd on fish has been investigated, the impact of Cd on muscle quality and its correlation with the gut microbiota in fish remains scarce. To comprehensively uncover Cd effects based on preliminary muscle Cd deposition, relevant studies, and ecological Cd pollution data, we exposed Labeo rohita to Cd under concentrations of 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!