[Study on effect of berberine on modulating lipid and CPT I A gene expression].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the modulating effect on lipid and gene expressions of CPT I A caused by berberine (Ber) in experimental hyperlipidemia rats. METHOD: Male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups according to the blood lipid values: normal group, hyperlipidemia group, 300 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) Ber-treated group, 60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) Ber-treated group, and 7.2 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) lovastatin-treated group. Normal group were fed with base diet and other groups were fed with high fat and cholesterol diet. 12 weeks after drugs were given the TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C from rat blood samples were tested by automatic biochemistry analyzer. Gene expressions of CPT I A and PPARalpha were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULT: It was shown that Ber significantly decreased TC and LDL-C, but increased HDL-C in dose-dependent manner, elevated expressions of CPT I A mRNA and protein without influence on PPARalpha expression. Similar effects from lovastatin on lipidemia were observed except the Ber effect on CPT I A gene expression. CONCLUSION: Ber has modulating effect on the lipid metabolism, the mechanism of which may be by promoting the CPT I A gene expression.