Berberine-Induced Amelioration of the Pathological Changes in Nutrient's Homeostasis During Murine Intestinal Eimeria papillata Infection

The current work aimed to study the ameliorative effect of berberine on the induced pathological changes in nutrient's homeostasis in mice infected with Eimeria papillata, Mice were randomly divided into three groups. The first group represents the control non-infected animals. Second and third groups were orally infected with 1.5 x 10(3) sporulated E. papillata oocysts. The 3rd group was treated with a daily dose (10 mg/kg) of berberine chloride solution for five successive days. All animals were sacrificed on day 5 p.i.. E. papillata infection induced a state of disturbance in nutrient homeostasis. Blood glucose levels and total proteins were elevated with concurrent decrease in level of carbohydrates and soluble proteins in jejunum of mice. Also, infection induced a hyperlipidemic status as shown from the increase in triglycerides, total lipids, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) with the mutual decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and phospholipids. Also, E. papillata caused marked disturbance in blood 'metal ion concentrations. Both ferrous and selenium ion levels were decreased, while sodium and potassium ion concentrations were increased. Berberine treatment of infected mice with E. papillata showed a great enhancement in nutrient homeostatic status and also reduced blood glucose level and restored jejunal carbohydrate content. In addition, berberine exerted hypolipidemic effect on the increased fractions of carbohydrates and lipids. Finally, berberine showed a marked enhancement in the levels of altered blood metal ions by the infection. Palm pollen grains or their extracts could be used within. food mixtures or water to correct the induced metabolic disturbance and growth depression associated with the intestinal coccidial infections.