MMP9 and hyperhomocysteinemia: For instance, alkaloid berberine has a stabilizing effect on atherosclerotic plaques by the suppression of the ECM regulators MMP9 and EMMPRIN (MMP9 inducer), by autophagy promotion in macrophages, and by promoting antioxidative activity via PPARγ activation (the last effect observed in hyperhomocysteinemia mice) [108,109].