Neuroprotective effect of berberine agonist against impairment of learning and memory skills in severe traumatic brain injury via Sirt1/p38 MAPK expression

Abstract

Berberine has multiple clinical applications, including the treatment of tumors, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, bacterial and viral infections, cerebral ischemic injuries, mental diseases, Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect of berberine agonist rescue learning and memory in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the possible mechanism underlying these observations was explored. The protective effect of berberine agonist significantly recovered learning and memory skills, attenuated brain edema and inhibited matrix metalloproteinase‑3 and ‑9 protein expression in mice with severe TBI. Berberine agonist significantly reduced inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis levels in mice with severe TBI. Berberine agonist promoted choline acetyltransferase activity and inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase. Collectively, results of the present study revealed that the neuroprotective effect of berberine agonist rescues learning and memory skills in severe TBI.

The Beneficial Roles of SIRT1 in Neuroinflammation-Related Diseases

“…Besides, several studies have demonstrated that natural compounds protect against TBI by activation of SIRT1. For example, berberine has reported the neuroprotective effect in a severe TBI mouse model by inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway through the activation of SIRT1 [ 144 ]. Polydatin derived from Polygonum cuspidatum ameliorated the damage of TBI through SIRT1-mediated improvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial injury [ 145 ].…”

Proteomic profiling of the neurons in mice with depressive-like behavior induced by corticosterone and the regulation of berberine: pivotal sites of oxidative phosphorylation

“…[29]. Recent studies have discovered BBR's effect on the other signaling pathways, such as PI3K-Akt, p38MAPK and AMPK signaling etc., in brain disorder [30][31][32], showing the complex mechanism of BBR neuroprotective effect. The anti-depression and anti-anxiety effects are newly identified pharmacological activities of BBR against neuropsychiatric disorders [33][34][35][36][37].…”

Retracted Article: Berberine alleviates amyloid beta-induced injury in Alzheimer's disease by miR-107/ZNF217

“… 5 The emerging evidence suggests that berberine plays an important neuroprotective effect on mice with severe traumatic brain injury by reducing impairment of learning and memory skill. 6 Additionally, berberine is found to ameliorate Aβ pathology and tau phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo and decrease cognitive impairment in AD mouse model. 7 However, the underlying mechanism allows the neuroprotective role of berberine in AD remains largely unknown.…”