A New Berberine Preparation Protects Pancreatic Islet Cells from Apoptosis Mediated by Inhibition of Phospholipase A2/p38 MAPK Pathway.

We studied an amorphous solid dispersion of berberine with absorption enhancer sodium caprate (Huang-Gui solid dispersion preparations, HGSD). A therapeutic effect of HGSD was revealed in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus and palmitate-induced injury to MIN6 β-cells. HGSD treatment (150 mg/kg) improved glucose metabolism and decreased β-cell apoptosis in diabetic mice. Furthermore, the effective component of HGSD berberine significantly attenuated the palmitate-induced decrease in MIN6 β-cells viability and insulin secretion. Moreover, molecular docking analysis and Western blotting showed that berberine decreased cell apoptosis and expression of group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and caspase-3. These data suggest that HGSD treatment protected β-cells via inhibiting the iPLA2/p38 MAPK pathway.