The Effect of Berberine Hydrochloride on Motor Function Impairment in Streptozotocin- Induced Diabetic Rats

Ddiabetes induce motor function impairment. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has multiple pharmacological effects including anti-diabetic and antioxidant activity. 40 male wistar rats were randomly selected and allocated to 5 equal groups: Control, Control berberine-treated (100 mg/kg), diabetic, and berberine- treated diabetic (50, 100 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced by STZ administration at the dose of 55 mg/ kg through i.p. route. Berberine hydrochloride was administered p.o. at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day 1 week after STZ injection for a period of 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein in 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after STZ injection to measure blood glucose levels. Behavioral tests including y maze task, inclend plane and barfix were performed at the end of 6th and 7th weeks. diabetic Berberine-treated groups (50, 100 mg/kg/day) has significant improvement rather than diabetic group in inclend plane test and y maze task. Berberine hydrochloride administration for 6 weeks improves motor function impairment in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats.