Berberine alleviates intestinal barrier dysfunction in glucolipid metabolism disorder hamsters by modulating gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related tryptophan metabolites.

BACKGROUND: The barberry plants can be considered as useful additives and functional compounds in various industries, especially in the food industry. Berberine (BBR) is the most important functional compound in the barberry roots, which has recently been used to treat obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Gut microbiota and intestinal barrier plays an important role in the development of glucolipid metabolism disorders (GLMD). However, the association of gut microbiota metabolism disorder and the intestinal barrier dysfunction effect of BBR in GLMD remains elusive.

RESULTS: The results showed that administration of BBR could increase the number of colonic glands and goblet cell mucus secretion, improve the intestinal barrier function, and reduce the serum glycolipid level in GLMD hamsters. Interestingly, BBR was metabolized into 12 metabolites by gut microbiota, and the main metabolic pathways were oxidation, demethylation, and hydrogenation. In addition, BBR significantly improved the species diversity and uniformity of gut microbiota, and promoted the proliferation of beneficial microbiota. Furthermore, the levels of tryptophan metabolites, such as Indole, Indole-3-acetamide (IAM), Indole-3-acetaldehyde (IALD), Indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were significantly altered by BBR. Both the intestinal tight junction proteins and intestinal immune factors were altered by BBR.

CONCLUSION: BBR could alleviate intestinal barrier dysfunction of GLMD by modulating gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related tryptophan metabolites, which may be one of the pharmacological mechanisms for the treatment of GLMD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.