Anti-Diabetic Effects ofBerberis kansuensisExtract on Type 2 Diabetic Rats Revealed by1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics and Biochemistry Analysis

The dried stem bark ofBerberis kansuensisC.K.Schneid. (Berberidaceae) was widely used to treat diabetes in traditional Tibetan medicine system. However, its anti-diabetic mechanisms have not been elucidated. In this study,H-1-NMR-based metabolomics combined with biochemistry assay was applied to investigate the anti-diabetic activities as well as underlying mechanisms ofB. kansuensisextract on type 2 diabetic rats. The results showed that after 30 days treatment withB. kansuensisextract, the levels of FBG, GSP, INS, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 were significantly decreased inB. kansuensisgroup compared with the model group. Besides, a total of 28 metabolites were identified in rat serum by(1)H-NMR-based metabolomics method, 16 of which were significantly different in the normal group compared with the model group, and eight of them were significantly reversed afterB. kansuensisintervention. Further analysis of metabolic pathways indicated that therapeutic effect ofB. kansuensismight be predominantly related to their ability to improve glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and choline metabolism. The results of both metabolomics and biochemical analysis indicated thatB. kansuensisextract has a potential anti-diabetic effect on type 2 diabetic rats. Its therapeutic effect may be based on the ability of anti-inflammation, alleviating insulin resistance and restoring several disturbed metabolic pathways.