{
  "abstract": "Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Coptis chinensis Franch. (Huanglian), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used for “heat” and “dampness” syndromes, is clinically associated with metabolic disorders such as NAFLD. Berberine (BBR), its major bioactive alkaloid, has shown metabolic benefits, though its mechanistic basis in NAFLD remains unclear.\n\nAim of the Study: To identify candidate pathways underlying the effects of BBR in NAFLD, a computational target prediction approach was employed, followed by in vivo experimental validation in a zebrafish model.\n\nMaterials and Methods: A thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury zebrafish model was established. Hepatic lipid accumulation and histopathology were assessed by Oil Red O staining, H&E staining, and qPCR. A computational target prediction approach was employed to identify potential BBR-NAFLD overlapping targets, followed by pathway enrichment analysis and molecular docking simulations to prioritize candidate pathways. Bile acid profiles were analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS metabolomics. The predicted PPARγ pathway was experimentally validated using the specific antagonist GW9662 and the agonist rosiglitazone.\n\nResults: BBR significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and restored liver morphology. A total of 104 overlapping targets were identified, with PPAR signaling emerging as a key pathway. BBR showed stable binding to PPARγ (−7.92 kcal/mol). In vivo, BBR restored the expression of pparg, rxra, cyp7a1, cyp27a1, and cyp8b1, all of which were suppressed by TAA; these effects were reversed by GW9662, confirming PPARγ dependence. Metabolomics revealed reduced levels of 6-ketoLCA and UDCA-3S, which were partially reversed by PPARγ inhibition.\n\nConclusion: BBR alleviates TAA-induced liver injury by regulating PPARγ and bile acid homeostasis, integrating systems pharmacology and experimental validation to support the ethnopharmacological use of C. chinensis in metabolic liver disease.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Science and Technology Center, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Institute of Medical Sciences, Yinchuan, China",
    "School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "Medical Experiment Center, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "Key Laboratory of Environmental Factors and Chronic Disease Control, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "The First Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "School of Basic, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China",
    "School of Medical Information and Engineering, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 12,
  "authors": [
    {
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        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Peng Sun"
    },
    {
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        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jun Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoyu Zhu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Yanshuang Ren"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Zhanyi Zhou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Wenjian Zhen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Yuan Ma"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Xue Ding"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Menghan Huang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Yuying Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3,
        8
      ],
      "name": "Wei Gong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Hao Wang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dgv5d1x6p7tb3.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1881966",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13696854/",
  "id": "dgv5d1x6p7tb3",
  "issns": [
    "1663-9812"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2026.1881966",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "2736|Berberine and alkaloids research"
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  "openalex": "W7221506809",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13696854?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13696854",
  "pmid": "42936096",
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dgv5d1x6p7tb3.ris",
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    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:08Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13696854",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Berberine and alkaloids research",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Berberine ameliorates thioacetamide-induced liver injury in zebrafish through PPARγ signaling and restores bile acid homeostasis",
  "title_text": "Berberine ameliorates thioacetamide-induced liver injury in zebrafish through PPARγ signaling and restores bile acid homeostasis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:34:07Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dgv5d1x6p7tb3",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Pharmacology",
  "versions": []
}