The Effects of Berberine on the Gut Microbiota in Apc min/+ Mice Fed with a High Fat Diet

Abstract

Background: Berberine (BBR) has been extensively reported to inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC) development, though its bioavailability is poor. Nowadays, an increasing number of studies have shown that BBR significantly accumulates in the intestines and could regulate gut microbiota in obesity. The purpose of this study was to further explore the effects of BBR on gut microbiota in Apc min/+ mice receiving a high fat diet (HFD). Methods: Apc min/+ mice received either HFD alone or HFD and BBR for 12 weeks. The intestinal tissues were collected to evaluate the efficiency of BBR on neoplasm development by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry was conducted to investigate the effects of BBR on cyclin D1 and β-catenin in colon tissues. Fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: BBR significantly reduced intestinal tumor development and altered the structure of gut microbiota in Apc min/+ mice fed with an HFD. At the phylum level, it was able to significantly inhibit the increase in Verrucomicrobia. At the genus level, it was able to suppress Akkermansia and elevate some short chain fat acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. Conclusions: BBR significantly alleviated the development of CRC in Apc min/+ mice fed with HFD and restored the enteric microbiome community.

Obesity-Induced TNFα and IL-6 Signaling: The Missing Link between Obesity and Inflammation—Driven Liver and Colorectal Cancers

“…In line, recent CAC studies in mice demonstrate that enriching high-fat diets with TNF- and IL-6-inhibiting supplements leads to the reduction of inflammation and mucosal injury in the colons of mice and ultimately to less tumor development [189,190,191,192,193]. Similar effects on tumor burden are seen by reducing obesity-induced inflammation via natural substances in the diets of obese APC Min/+ mice [194,195].…”

A Holistic View of Berberine Inhibiting Intestinal Carcinogenesis in Conventional Mice Based on Microbiome-Metabolomics Analysis

“…In addition, more recent attention has been turned to the correlation of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in the progress of diseases, current literatures have also confirmed that metabolites played an important role in the pathological progression of CRC (35,36). Although the study had reported that BBR restored the gut microbiota and alleviated the development of CRC in Apc min/+ mice fed with HFD, the overall effect of BBR on both microorganisms and metabolites of CRC remains unknown (27). In this study, we adapted the commonly CRC model induced by AOM and DSS, and treated with or without BBR to illustrate the inhibitory effect of BBR on CRC.…”

“…Hence, the therapeutic strategies for CRC have now shifted to the microbiome-metabolomics. Interestingly, BBR has been reported to regulate the gut microbiota diversity and community composition, which contributed to attenuate obesity and insulin resistance, as well as CRC in high-fat diet-fed rats ( 25 – 27 ), suggesting that BBR can treat diseases by modulating gut microbiota. Here, we hypothesized that the gut microbiota and its metabolites are the targets of BBR on the treatment of CRC.…”

Antidiabetic and Cosmeceutical Potential of Common Barbery (Berberis vulgaris L.) Root Bark Extracts Obtained by Optimization of ‘Green’ Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

“…In accordance with some previous findings obtained using ethanolic [50] and methanolic [51] B. vulgaris extracts, the extracts used in this study demonstrated excellent inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. An increasing number of studies have shown that berberine significantly accumulates in the intestines [52]. Therefore α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity of glycerol and other B. vulgaris extracts can certainly contribute to well-established antidiabetic properties of berberine and plants that contain it.…”