Effects of a combination of puerarin, baicalin and berberine on the expression of proliferator-activated receptor-γ and insulin receptor in a rat model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Abstract. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent disease, with a clinical spectrum ranging from simple fatty liver disease to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Puerarin, baicalin and berberine are herbal products widely used in Asia, which are believed to possess therapeutic benefits for alleviating the symptoms of NAFLD. In the present study, a rat model of NAFLD, induced by a high-fat diet, was established and orthographical experimentation was used to investigate the effects of various combinations of puerarin, baicalin and berberine on the hepatic expression of proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ and insulin receptor (IR). The present study demonstrated that serum levels of total cholesterol, alanine transaminase and low-density lipoproteins were significantly decreased in the puerarin-dominated groups (P<0.05 vs. the model group), whereas the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 were significantly improved in the baicalin-and berberine-dominated groups (P<0.05 vs. the model group). Furthermore, as compared with the control group, the levels of PPAR-γ/IR mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01), and significantly increased in the rosiglitazone group and some of the orthogonal experiment groups (P<0.01). In conclusion, a combination of puerarin, baicalin and berberine induced favorable effects on NAFLD by upregulating hepatic PPAR-γ and IR expression levels, and different proportions of monomer compositions exerted variable positive effects on various stages of NAFLD.

Antitumor effects of baicalin on ovarian cancer cells through induction of cell apoptosis and inhibition of cell migration in vitro

“…Baicalin has previously been demonstrated to inhibit platelet-derived growth factor-BB-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation through suppressing β-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling ( 19 ). Baicalin, a phytochemical component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has widespread applications as anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatitis and anti-oxidation agent ( 11 , 20 , 21 ). Furthermore, the anti-cancer effect of baicalin has also been previously documented ( 22 ).…”

Colorectal Carcinoma: A General Overview and Future Perspectives in Colorectal Cancer

“…The use of metals for therapeutic purposes dates back to ancient times. For example, cinnabar powder, a derivative of mercury, was widely used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine [ 263 ]; silver sulfadiazine is commonly found in topical creams for burn treatment [ 264 ], and Tianmai Xiaoke Tablet, the main ingredient of which is chromium picolinate, is used in China to treat type 2 diabetes [ 265 ]. However, one of the most important achievements for inorganic chemistry in medicine is the discovery of cisplatin.…”

Nuclear receptors and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…Hepatic PPARα expression is low in NAFLD, but increases in parallel with histologic improvement following diet/exercise therapy [19,20]. This decrease in PPARα mRNA protein levels during high fat diet-feeding leading to steatosis was also observed in a murine model of steatosis and is accompanied by an increase in PPARδ mRNA and protein [21]. These changes diminish fatty acid oxidation while stimulating lipogenesis.…”