Berberine significantly reduces inflammatory cytokine levels in the peripheral blood of mice with neonatal NEC. Mice with neonatal NEC were treated with either berberine or PBS (as a control) and levels of (A) TLR-4, (B) MD-2, (C) TNF-α, (D) NF-κB, (E) IL-6 and (F) Cxcl-1 in the peripheral blood was determined by ELISA. **P<0.01. NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; TLR, toll like receptor; MD, myeloid differentiation protein; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; NF nuclear factor; IL, interleukin; Cxcl, (C-X-C motif) ligand.