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Effects of Berberine on the Therapeutic Efficacy of Evodiae Fructus in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Its Hepatotoxicity: a Study Based on a Zebrafish Larval Model and Network Pharmacology
XU Zixuan, HUANG Haili, LI Sitong, LI Jiaqi, CHEN Xiaolu, LIN Ruichao, ZHAO Chongjun
2026, 23(4):
405-413.
DOI: 10.19803/j.1672-8629.20260004
Objective To elucidate the detoxifying and efficacy-enhancing effects of berberine (BBR), the principal active constituent of Coptidis Rhizoma, on hepatotoxicity induced by Evodiae fructus (EF) and its therapeutic efficacy against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods The hepatotoxicity of EF was evaluated in terms of zebrafish mortality, liver fluorescence areas, hepatocyte apoptosis, biochemical indices (ALT and AST), and hepatic histopathology. The antagonistic effect of BBR against EF-induced hepatotoxicity was also explored. In a TNBS-induced zebrafish IBD model, the synergistic effect of BBR on EF treatment of IBD was evaluated based on such crucial indicators as intestinal endocytic function, macrophage abundance, neutrophil infiltration, and goblet cell mucus secretion. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the shared targets and signaling pathways between EF, BBR, and IBD. Subsequently, the expressions of core genes were validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results A high-dose of EF induced significant hepatotoxicity in zebrafish, manifested as liver enlargement, an increase in apoptosis, and elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) while berberine (BBR) markedly alleviated these toxic effects. In the IBD model, EF improved the intestinal endocytic function, reduced the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, and promoted the mucus secretion of goblet cells. Notably, the co-administration of BBR and EF led to significant improvements in these parameters, indicating a pronounced synergistic effect. Network pharmacology analysis identified the PI3K-Akt, TNF, and VEGF signaling pathways as potential key pathways, with core targets including SRC, MAPK14, ptgs2a, CDK4, CDK2, and KIT. The results of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were highly consistent with the prediction that EF could significantly downregulate inflammation-related genes such as IL-1β, ptgs2a, MAPK14, SRC, and CDK4 while upregulating CDK2. BBR added to the downregulation of these inflammatory targets. Conclusion BBR can effectively attenuate the hepatotoxicity induced by EF while enhancing its therapeutic efficacy in IBD, possibly by inhibiting the TNF, VEGF, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways and by synergistically downregulating such key targets as SRC, MAPK14, IL-1β, ptgs2a, and CDK4, thereby alleviating inflammation and boosting the repair of the intestinal mucosa. The study is expected to provide experimental evidence for safe applications of toxic medicines derived from EF and offers a new interpretation of the classical herbal pair Coptidis Rhizoma-EF.
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