Experimental study on berberin raised insulin sensitivity in insulin resistance rat models

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of berberin on insulin sensitivity in high fat diet rats. METHODS: Before and after ingesting berberin, glucose insulin tolerance test was used to measure the insulin sensitivity, and determining fasting blood glucose, insulin, blood lipid and muscle triglyceride content. RESULTS: Compared with normal feeding rats, high fat feeding impaired insulin action (5.02 +/- 1.08 vs 8.72 +/- 0.91, P < 0.005), decreased liver glycogen level and raised fasting blood glucose, insulin and blood lipid levels. Berberin and metformin improved insulin resistance (6.31 +/- 0.95 and 6.24 +/- 0.65) and liver glycogen level in insulin resistance models, but had no effect on blood glucose, insulin, lipid levels and muscle triglyceride depots. CONCLUSION: It is confirmed that berberin could raise insulin sensitivity of high fat diet rats similar to metformin.