Effects of Kashgar Berberry Extract on Oxidative Stress in Atherosclerotic Rats through Regulating the PPARγ/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
ZHANG Yuxiang
SANG Guoyao
HE Xuejiao
SONG Jiantao
Abstract：Objective:To observe the effect of Kashgar Berberry Extract on the oxidative stress in atherosclerotic rat models by regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPARγ)/nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway.Methods:Fifty-five male SD rats of specific pathogen-free(SPF)grade were selected.Ten rats were set as the blank group,while the remaining 45 rats were used to establish the atherosclerosis model,with 40 rats successfully modeling the condition.Forty modeling rats were randomly divided into the model group,the positive drug group,the low-dose Kashgar Berberry Extract group,and the high-dose group,with 10 rats in each group.The blank group and the model group were gavaged with normal saline,the positive drug group was gavaged with atorvastatin,and the low-dose Kashgar Berberry Extract group,and the high-dose Kashgar Berberry Extract group were respectivelygavaged with 60 and 240 mg/(kg·d)of Kashgar Berberry Extract.The histopathological,oxidative stress,serum lipid,endothelin-1(ET-1),nitric oxide(NO),PPARγ mRNA,NF-κB mRNA expressions,and PPARγ/NF-κB protein expression in the aortic tissues of each group of rats were observed.Results:Compared with the blank group,the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),NO,PPARγ mRNA,and PPARγ in the model group decreased(P＜0.05),while malondialdehyde(MDA),reactive oxygen species(ROS),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),ET-1,NF-κB mRNA,and NF-κB increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,SOD,GSH-Px,HDL-C,NO,PPARγ mRNA,and PPARγ in the positive drug group,the low-dose Kashgar Berberry Extract group,and the high-dose group significantly increased(P＜0.05),while MDA,ROS,LDL-C,TC,TG,ET-1,NF-κB mRNA,and NF-κB decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the positive drug group,SOD,GSH-Px,HDL-C,NO,PPARγ mRNA,and PPARγin the low-dose Kashgar Berberry Extract group decreased(P＜0.05),while MDA,ROS,LDL-C,TC,TG,ET-1,NF-κB mRNA,and NF-κB increased.SOD,GSH-Px,LDL-C,TC,TG,NO,PPARγ mRNA,and PPARγ in the high-dose Kashgar Berberry Extract group increased(P＜0.05),while MDA,ROS,HDL-C,ET-1,NF-κB mRNA,and NF-κB decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Kashgar Berberry Extract group could improve the oxidative stress response in atherosclerotic model rats,while its mechanism might be related to regulate the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Keywords：atherosclerosisKashgar Berberryperoxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γnuclear factor κBoxidative stressexperimental study
Publication Date：2026-02-10
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-09(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 350-356 )