Berberine ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background and Aims: The metabolic syndrome is considered a chronic inflammatory state which augments endothelial dysfunction and leads to cardiovascular ischemic events and increase in mortality. It is characterized by a low nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, endothelial dysfunction together with hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress and insulin resistance and precede the early conditions involved in the genesis of macrovascular disorders. Berberine is a natural alkaloid found in rhizomes and roots of a variety of plants. Initially used as a detoxicating and anti-inflammatory agent in traditional Chinese medicine. The main aim of this work was to investigate the potential of berberine as a therapeutic approach to endothelial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome induced by high fat diet in non-obese Sprague-Dawley rats (SD).