Protective effect of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine on spontaneous inflammation in the spleen, liver and kidney of non-obese diabetic mice through downregulating gene expression ratios of pro-/anti-inflammatory and Th1/Th2 cytokines

This study investigated anti-inflammatory effects of berberine using non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice that spontaneously develop type 1 diabetes. The NOD mice were randomly divided into four groups, including control group (intragastric gavage with water), berberine low dose, berberine medium dose and berberine high dose groups, which were respectively administrated with 50, 150, and 500 mg berberine/kg BW through 14 weeks by consecutive tube feeding. Imprinting control region (ICR) mice were also selected as a species control group, to compare with NOD mice. Cytokine expression profiles in the spleen, liver and kidney were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The results showed that berberine supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the expression ratios of pro-/anti-inflammatory and/or Th1/Th2 cytokines in the spleen, liver and kidney of NOD mice, suggesting that berberine supplementation alleviated spontaneous inflammation in the spleen, liver and kidney of NOD mice.