RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effect of berberine (BBR) extracted from Chinese Goldthread Rhizome on the expression of claudin-1 in ulcerative colitis mice. Methods UC model was established by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) . Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model control group, a low dose BBR group, a high dose BBR group and a salazosulfapyridine (SASP) positive control group. Then daily gavage administration was given for 7 days. During the course of experiment, the general conditions of mice were observed, and disease activity index (DAI) were assessed. At the end of treatment, colon tissue were dissected, its macroscopic damage index (CMDI) and tissue damage index (TDI) were evaluated, and the contents of claudin-1 protein and mRNA were detected by immunohistochemical method and real-time PCR separately. Results Compared with model control group, the clinical and pathological symptoms of colitis in BBR groups and SASP group were improved to various degrees, the DAI, CMDI and TDI in high dose BBR group and SASP group were all reduced (P<0.01) . The expression levels of claudin-1 mRNA in five groups were 1.00±0.03、 0.12±0.02、 0.21±0.02、 0.63±0.03 and 0.81±0.03, respectively. The expression levels of claudin-1 and its mRNA of colonic tissue in UC mice were all markedly lower than normal mice (P<0.01), which were all increased after BBR or SASP treatment when comparing with blank control group, whose difference was statistically significant. Conclusion Berberine can effectively relieve the colitis in UC mice by raising the expression of claudin-1, but the therapeutic effect was a little weaker than SASP.