This study aims to investigate the potential protective effects of berberine
on ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury in rats. Thirty male rats were
randomly divided into three experimental groups as follows: the sham group,
the IR group and the berberine+IR group. Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion was
performed by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 30 min, followed
by 2-h reperfusion. The berberine+IR group of rats were administered 200
mg/kg of berberine once a day for 7 days before laparotomy. Compared with the
IR group, rats pretreated with berberine prior to IR had significantly
reduced intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury and a significant reduction in
Chiu?s score (p<0.05). The level of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase in
the berberine+IR group was significantly decreased compared with the IR group
(p<0.001). Superoxide dismutase activity in the berberine+IR group was
significantly higher than in the IR group (p<0.001). Compared with the IR
group, diamine oxidase was markedly decreased in the berberine+IR group
(p<0.01). The level of secretory immunoglobulin A in the berberine+IR group
was significantly increased when compared to the IR group (p<0.001). Our
results suggest that berberine can protect from intestinal IR injury and that
it can be beneficial in treating conditions associated with intestinal IR
injury.
Protective effects of thymoquinone and melatonin on intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury
