Liver-target nanotechnology facilitates berberine to ameliorate cardio-metabolic diseases

Nat Commun. 2019 Apr 30;10(1):1981. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09852-0.

Abstract

Cardiovascular and metabolic disease (CMD) remains a main cause of premature death worldwide. Berberine (BBR), a lipid-lowering botanic compound with diversified potency against metabolic disorders, is a promising candidate for ameliorating CMD. The liver is the target of BBR so that liver-site accumulation could be important for fulfilling its therapeutic effect. In this study a rational designed micelle (CTA-Mic) consisting of α-tocopheryl hydrophobic core and on-site detachable polyethylene glycol-thiol shell is developed for effective liver deposition of BBR. The bio-distribution analysis proves that the accumulation of BBR in liver is increased by 248.8% assisted by micelles. Up-regulation of a range of energy-related genes is detectable in the HepG2 cells and in vivo. In the high fat diet-fed mice, BBR-CTA-Mic intervention remarkably improves metabolic profiles and reduces the formation of aortic arch plaque. Our results provide proof-of-concept for a liver-targeting strategy to ameliorate CMD using natural medicines facilitated by Nano-technology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Berberine / pharmacology*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dyslipidemias / blood
  • Dyslipidemias / drug therapy
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Metabolic Diseases / blood
  • Metabolic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Berberine