Effects of berberine on AMPK pathway, glucose consumption and lactate release in the presence of compound C.

Cells were preincubated with compound C (10 µmol/L) for 30 min, then treated with 20 µmol/L berberine or 10 mmol/L metformin in serum-free DMEM with 0.25% BSA and 15 mM D-glucose for 24 h. Whole cell lysate protein was used to measure the phosphorylation of AMPK (pAMPK) and ACC (pACC) by Western blot in HepG2 hepatocytes and C2C12 myotubes (A). Effects of berberine and metformin on glucose consumption were checked in HepG2 (B) and C2C12 (C) cells; effects of berberine and metformin on lactate release were checked in HepG2 (D) and C2C12 (E) cells. Increasing rates of lactate release stimulated by berberine and metformin in the presence or absence of compound C in HepG2 (F) and C2C12 (G) cells were calculated. Results are shown as means ± SEM from at least three independent experiments; ***P<0.001 vs. control in corresponding group.