Berberine AND nad+ ratio

Berberine is a plant alkaloid to which antihyperglycemic properties have been attributed. It is also known as an inhibitor of mitochondrial functions. In this work short-term translation of the latter effects on hepatic metabolism were investigated using the isolated perfused rat liver. Once-through perfusion with a buffered saline solution was done. At low portal concentrations berberine modified several metabolic pathways. It inhibited hepatic gluconeogenesis, increased glycolysis, inhibited ammonia detoxification, increased the cytosolic NADH/NAD+ ratio and diminished the ATP levels...

Accumulating evidences showed metformin and berberine, well-known glucose-lowering agents, were able to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport chain at complex I. In this study, we aimed to explore the antihyperglycaemic effect of complex I inhibition. Rotenone, amobarbital and gene silence of NDUFA13 were used to inhibit complex I. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were performed in db/db mice. Lactate release and glucose consumption were measured to investigate glucose metabolism in HepG2 hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes...

Post-translational modifications i.e. phosphorylation and acetylation are pivotal requirements for proper functioning of eukaryotic proteins. The current study aimed to decode the impact of acetylation/deacetylation of non-histone targets i.e. FoxO1/3a and p53 of sirtuins (NAD(+) dependent enzymes with lysine deacetylase activity) in berberine treated human hepatoma cells. Berberine (100 μM) inhibited sirtuins significantly (P<0.05) at transcriptional level as well as at translational level. Combination of nicotinamide (sirtuin inhibitor) with berberine potentiated sirtuins inhibition and increased the expression of FoxO1/3a and phosphorylation of p53 tumor suppressor protein...

Metabolic acidosis severely complicates methanol and ethylene glycol intoxications. Acidosis is caused by acid metabolites and can be intensified by lactate elevation. Lactate concentration depends on the NADH(2)/NAD ratio. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, E.C.1.1.1.27.) supplies more lactate when the level of NADH(2) is elevated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibitors and substrates: cimetidine, EDTA, 4-methylpyrazole (4-MP), Ukrain and ethanol on LDH activity...