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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Dose-response effect of berberine on bile acid profile and gut microbiota in mice

Authors: Ying Guo, YouCai Zhang, WeiHua Huang, Felcy Pavithra Selwyn, Curtis D. Klaassen

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

Berberine (BBR) is a traditional antimicrobial herbal medicine. Recently, BBR has gained popularity as a supplement to lower blood lipids, cholesterol and glucose. Bile acids (BAs) are known to regulate blood levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose and energy homeostasis, and gut flora play an important role in BA metabolism. However, whether BBR alters BAs metabolism or dose-response effect of BBR on gut flora is unknown.

Methods

In this study, the effects of various doses of BBR on the concentrations of BAs in liver and serum of male C57BL/6 mice were determined by UPLC-MS/MS, and the expression of BA-related genes, as well as the amount of 32 of the most abundant gut bacterial species in the terminal ileum and large intestine of male C57BL/6 mice were quantified by RT-PCR and Quantigene 2.0 Reagent System, respectively.

Results

Unconjugated BAs and total BAs were significantly altered by BBR in serum but not in liver. Increased primary BAs (βMCA, TβMCA and TUDCA) and decreased secondary BAs (DCA, LCA and the T-conjugates) were observed in livers and serum of mice fed BBR. The expression of BA-synthetic enzymes (Cyp7a1 and 8b1) and uptake transporter (Ntcp) increased 39-400 % in liver of mice fed the higher doses of BBR, whereas nuclear receptors and efflux transporters were not markedly altered. In addition, Bacteroides were enriched in the terminal ileum and large bowel of mice treated with BBR.

Conclusion

The present study indicated that various doses of BBR have effects on BA metabolism and related genes as well as intestinal flora, which provides insight into many pathways of BBR effects.

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Title: Dose-response effect of berberine on bile acid profile and gut microbiota in mice
Authors: Ying Guo
YouCai Zhang
WeiHua Huang
Felcy Pavithra Selwyn
Curtis D. Klaassen
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1367-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Dose-response effect of berberine on bile acid profile and gut microbiota in mice

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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