Effect of berberine on oxidative damage and the SIRT1/p53 pathway in liver tissues of NAFLD rats

AIM:To investigate the effect of berberine on oxidative damage and silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1)/p53 pathway in the liver tissues of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats and to explore the mechanism of berberine against NAFLD. METHODS:The male SD rats (n=24) were randomly divided into normal group, model group and berberine group (8 rats in each group). The rats in normal group was fed with normal diet, while the rats in model group and berberine group were fed with high-fat diet. The rats in berberine group was intragastrically administered with daily doses (100 mg/kg) of berberine for 16 weeks. The levels of liver total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total anti-oxidant capatity (T-AOC) were measured. HE staining, oil red O straining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the histological changes of the livers. The protein levels of SIRT1, p53 and acetylated p53 (Ac-p53) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with model group, the levels of liver TC, TG and MDA in berberine group were significantly reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the levels of SOD and T-AOC were significantly increased (P<0.01). The results of pathological observation showed that the lipid accumulation in the liver of berberine group was significantly attenuated. Compared with model group, the expression of SIRT1 was significantly increased and the expression of Ac-p53 was obviously reduced in berberine group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Berberine reduces hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage in NAFLD rats induce by high-fat diet, and this effect may be associated with regulation of the SIRT1/p53 signal pathway.