Abstract: Objective To investigate the hypolipidemic effect of combination of berberine and metformin (B-M, 2∶1) on rats and mice with hyperlipidemia. Methods Rats model of hyperlipidemia was established by administration of high-fat diet for 28 days. The model rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely B-M high, medium and low dose groups (280 mg/kg, 140 mg/kg and 70 mg/kg, respectively), Metformin group (140 mg/kg), model group, and the normal rats as the contorl group (n=10). After 21 days of oral administration, the sera of all rats were collected to determine the levels of TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively. Mice model of hyperlipidemia was established by a caudal vein injection of Triton WR-1339 at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Then model mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely B-M high, medium and low dose groups (400 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively), Metformin group (200 mg/kg), model group, and the normal mice as the control group (n=10). All mice were orally administered pre-injection for 3 days. The sera of all groups were collected to detect the levels of TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C 24 h post-injection. Results Administration of B-M combination significantly reduced the TG, TC and LDL-C levels in serum of rats with hyperlipidemia, compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). At the same time, B-M reduced the levels of blood lipids in mice with Triton-induced hyperlipidemia. The levels of TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in high dose group, TG, TC and LDL-C in medium dose group and LDL-C in low dose group were significantly lowered than the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, a dose-dependent manner was showed in rats and mice with hyperlipidemia, respectively. Conclusion B-M combination may have a good hypolipidemic effect.

Key words: Berberine, Metformin, Hyperlipidemia