Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40913635›Full record

ArticleJournal of molecular histology2025

Berberine contributes to protecting against the cadmium-induced pancreatic damage: role of intestinal microbiome modulation and barrier function.

Abdulaziz Q Ali, Ezat A Mersal, Rastam Samer, Samaa A Alhjmohammad, Zainab H Alabdrabalridha, Fatimah Y Alseeni, Amal F Dawood, Marwa Omar Abdel All, Ahmed M Abdelmoneim, Tamer M Shawky

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of molecular histology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Abdulaziz Q AliDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. aazizqaid@gmail.com.
Ezat A MersalDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rastam SamerDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Samaa A AlhjmohammadDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Zainab H AlabdrabalridhaDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fatimah Y AlseeniDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision College, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Amal F DawoodDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Marwa Omar Abdel AllHistology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
Ahmed M AbdelmoneimPhysiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
Tamer M ShawkyDepartment of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cadmium (Cad) is a worldwide heavy metal pollutant associated with global health challenges. Alteration of the intestinal microbiome, due to chemicals' exposure, plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases such as pancreatic disorders. Hence, modulation of the gut microbiota might be a targeted approach to manage pancreatic diseases. Using murine modeling, this study consisted of two dependent experiments to investigate the curative potential of berberine (BBR) in a Wistar rat model of Cad-provoked pancreatic toxicity and the possible contribution of gut microbiota to BBR protection. In experiment 1, Cad-induced pancreatic injury was established in rats via 8-week oral gavage of Cad at 4 mg/kg. The treatment group was exposed to BBR at 200 mg/kg body weight, oral gavage for 8 weeks. In experiment 2, transplantation of the fecal microbiome was done, in which the fecal microbiota in each group of experiment 1 was orally gavaged to the healthy rats of each corresponding group in experiment 2, once weekly for 8 weeks. The serum amylase and lipase levels, pancreatic inflammatory and oxidative markers, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses were evaluated. The markers of gut mucosal barrier, and mRNA expression of cell junction proteins were investigated for possible intestinal injury. 16S rRNA sequencing was applied to identify the gut bacterial changes and possible pancreatic bacterial translocation. Cad induced intestinal barrier disruption and elicited a state of pancreatic inflammation and apoptosis as indicated by TGF-β and BAX immunohistochemistry, which were relieved by BBR. A decreased firmicutes/bacteroidetes ratio and microbial migration due to interrupted intestinal mucosal barrier were reported. Furthermore, BBR restored the bacterial richness and proportions in the gut, thereby maintaining the intestinal microbial community, fixing the intestinal mucosal barrier structure, and inhibiting the pathway of bacterial migration. BBR protected against Cad-induced pancreatic damage, mostly through safeguarding the intestinal barrier function. Modulation of the intestinal bacterial community, repairing the gut barrier structure, and interference with the pancreatic bacterial migration and colonization were suggested BBR effects, potentially alleviating Cad-related pancreatic injury.

Indexed as

BerberineCadmiumGastrointestinal MicrobiomePancreasProtective AgentsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalIntestinal MucosaMaleRatsRats, WistarRNA, Ribosomal, 16SBerberineCadmiumProtective AgentsRNA, Ribosomal, 16SBAX immunohistochemistryBerberineCadmiumFecal microbiome transplantPancreatic toxicity

Identifiers

PMID40913635

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.