Berberine induces apoptosis through a mitochondria/caspases pathway in human hepatoma cells

The Role of HSP90 and TRAP1 Targets on Treatment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant form of liver cancer and arises due to dysregulation of the cell cycle control machinery. Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) and mitochondrial HSP90, also referred to as TRAP1 are important critical chaperone target receptors for early diagnosis and targeting HCC. Both HSP90 and TRAP1 expression was found to be higher in HCC patients. Hence, the importance of HSP90 and TRAP1 inhibitors mechanism and mitochondrial targeted delivery of those inhibitors function is widely studied. This review also focuses on importance of protein-protein interactions of HSP90 and TRAP1 targets and association of its interacting proteins in various pathways of HCC. To further elucidate the mechanism, systems biology approaches and computational biology approach studies are well explored in the association of inhibition of herbal plant molecules with HSP90 and its mitochondrial type in HCC.

Enhancement of antitumor effects of berberine chloride with a copper(II) complex against human triple negative breast cancer: In vitro studies

In this study, the copper(II) complex [Cu(chromoneTSC)Cl2]•0.5H2O•0.0625C2H5OH (where chromoneTSC = (E)-N-Ethyl-2-((4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methylene)-hydrazinecarbothioamide) was synthesized and characterized; then used to carry out in vitro studies in combination with berberine chloride (BBC). The ligand and complex were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and NMR (1H and 13C) spectroscopy, and conductivity measurements. The cytotoxic effect was analyzed by using the CCK-8 viability assay in cancer MDA-MB-231 VIM RFP and non-cancer MCF-10A cell lines. The IC50 values for the complex and BBC were 21.2 ±1.6 and 48.3 ± 2.4 μM, respectively at 24 h incubation, while the IC50 value of the combination treatment was 9.3 ± 1.5 in cancer cells. The co-treatment group significantly increased the number of cells in G2 phase, indicating the growth arrest of cancer cells. Moreover, the combination group showed induction of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. There was also a study on the effect of the combination treatment on receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) as biomarkers of necroptosis. The results showed activation of necroptosis after treatment with the combination of the copper complex and BBC via the activation of RIPK3-MLKL pathway.

Mitoepigenetics pathways and natural compounds: a dual approach to combatting hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading liver cancer that significantly impacts global life expectancy and remains challenging to treat due to often late diagnoses. Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis is still poor, especially in advanced stages. Studies have pointed out that investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC, including mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic regulators, are potentially important targets for diagnosis and therapy. Mitoepigenetics, or the epigenetic modifications of mitochondrial DNA, have drawn wide attention for their role in HCC progression. Besides, molecular biomarkers such as mitochondrial DNA alterations and non-coding RNAs showed early diagnosis and prognosis potential. Additionally, natural compounds like alkaloids, resveratrol, curcumin, and flavonoids show promise in HCC show promise in modulating mitochondrial and epigenetic pathways involved in cancer-related processes. This review discusses how mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic modifications, especially mitoepigenetics, influence HCC and delves into the potential of natural products as new adjuvant treatments against HCC.

Current development and structure-activity relationship study of berberine derivatives

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium isoquinoline alkaloid derived from traditional Chinese medicines Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron chinense. It has many pharmacological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Through structural modifications at various sites of berberine, the introduction of different groups can change berberine's physical and chemical properties, thereby improving the biological activity and clinical efficacy, and expanding the scope of application. This paper reviews the research progress and structure-activity relationships of berberine in recent years, aiming to provide valuable insights for the exploration of novel berberine derivatives.

N-acetyltransferase 10 affects the proliferation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and M2-type polarization of macrophages by regulating C-C motif chemokine ligand 2

BACKGROUND

N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. However, the current regulatory mechanism of NAT10 in tumors is limited to its presence in tumor cells. Here, we aimed to reveal the role of NAT10 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and investigate its effect on macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

METHODS

The correlation between NAT10 and ICC clinicopathology was analyzed using tissue microarray (TMA), while the effect of NAT10 on ICC proliferation was verified in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the downstream target of NAT10, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), was identified by Oxford Nanopore Technologies full-length transcriptome sequencing, RNA immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments. It was confirmed by co-culture that ICC cells could polarize macrophages towards M2 type through the influence of NAT10 on CCL2 protein expression level. Through RNA-sequencing, molecular docking, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays, it was confirmed that berberine (BBR) can specifically bind CCL2 to inhibit ICC development.

RESULTS

High expression level of NAT10 was associated with poor clinicopathological manifestations of ICC. In vitro, the knockdown of NAT10 inhibited the proliferative activity of ICC cells and tumor growth in vivo, while its overexpression promoted ICC proliferation. Mechanically, by binding to CCL2 messenger RNA, NAT10 increased CCL2 protein expression level in ICC and their extracellular matrix, thereby promoting the proliferation of ICC cells and M2-type polarization of macrophages. BBR can target CCL2, inhibit ICC proliferation, and reduce M2-type polarization of macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

NAT10 promotes ICC proliferation and M2-type polarization of macrophages by up-regulating CCL2, whereas BBR inhibits ICC proliferation and M2-type polarization of macrophages by inhibiting CCL2.

Transforming Cancer Treatment with Nanotechnology: The Role of Berberine as a Star Natural Compound

Berberine (BBR), recognized as an oncotherapeutic phytochemical, exhibits its anti-cancer properties via multiple molecular pathways. However, its clinical application is hindered by suboptimal tumor accumulation, rapid systemic elimination, and diminished bioactive concentration owing to extensive metabolic degradation. To circumvent these limitations, the strategic employment of nanocarriers and other drugs in combination with BBR is emerging as a focus to potentiate its anti-cancer efficacy. This review introduced the expansive spectrum of BBR's anti-cancer activities, BBR and other drugs co-loaded nanocarriers for anti-cancer treatments, and evaluated the synergistic augmentation of these amalgamated modalities. The aim is to provide an overview of BBR for cancer treatment based on nano-delivery. Berberine (BBR), recognized as an oncotherapeutic phytochemical, exhibits its anti-cancer properties via multiple molecular pathways. However, its clinical application is hindered by suboptimal tumor accumulation, rapid systemic elimination, and diminished bioactive concentration owing to extensive metabolic degradation. To circumvent these limitations, the strategic employment of nanocarriers and other drugs in combination with BBR is emerging as a focus to potentiate its anti-cancer efficacy. Nano-delivery systems increase drug concentration at the tumor site by improving pharmacological activity and tissue distribution, enhancing drug bioavailability. Organic nanocarriers have advantages for berberine delivery including biocompatibility, encapsulation, and controlled release of the drug. While the advantages of inorganic nanocarriers for berberine delivery mainly lie in their efficient loading ability of the drug and their slow release ability of the drug. This review introduced the expansive spectrum of BBR's anti-cancer activities, BBR and other drugs co-loaded nanocarriers for anti-cancer treatments, and evaluated the synergistic augmentation of these amalgamated modalities. The aim is to provide an overview of BBR for cancer treatment based on nano-delivery.

Unlocking the potential of Berberine: Advancing cancer therapy through chemosensitization and combination treatments

Despite considerable progress in cancer treatment options, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs remains a significant challenge. This review focuses on Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid found in various medicinal plants, which has garnered attention in the field of oncology for its anticancer potential either alone or in combination with other compounds and its ability to modulate chemoresistance, acting as a natural chemosensitizer. BBR's ability to modulate chemoresistance is attributed to its diverse mechanisms of action, including inducing DNA breaks, inhibition of drug efflux pumps, modulation of apoptosis and necroptosis, downregulating multidrug resistance genes, enhancing immune response, suppressing angiogenesis and targeting multiple pathways within cancer cells, including protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1), janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), Wnt/β-catenin etc. Moreover, BBR, in combination with other compounds, also offers a promising approach to cancer therapy, enforcing its broad-spectrum anticancer effects. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate the intricate mechanism of action of BBR in combinatorial therapy as a potential chemosensitizer to increase the efficiency of several drugs, including cisplatin, doxorubicin, lapatinib, tamoxifen, irinotecan, niraparib, etc. in various cancers. Additionally, this review briefly covers the origin and biological activities of BBR, exploring the specific actions underlying its anticancer effects. Further, pharmacokinetic properties of BBR are also discussed, providing insight into its therapeutic potential and optimization of its use in cancer treatment.

Mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine overcoming of radiotherapy resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent malignancy among women, with radiotherapy serving as a primary treatment modality. Despite radiotherapy, a subset of breast cancer patients experiences local recurrence, attributed to the intrinsic resistance of tumors to radiation. Therefore, there is a compelling need to explore novel approaches that can enhance cytotoxic effects through alternative mechanisms. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its active constituents exhibit diverse pharmacological actions, including anti-tumor effects, offering extensive possibilities to identify effective components capable of overcoming radiotherapy resistance. This review delineates the mechanisms underlying radiotherapy resistance in breast cancer, along with potential candidate Chinese herbal medicines that may sensitize breast cancer cells to radiotherapy. The exploration of such herbal interventions holds promise for improving therapeutic outcomes in the context of breast cancer radiotherapy resistance.

In vitro toxicity of naringin and berberine alone, and encapsulated within PMMA nanoparticles

Phytochemical compounds, such as naringin and berberine, have been used for many years due to their antioxidant activities, and consequently, beneficial health effects. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of naringin, berberine and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated with naringin or berberine and their possible cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects on mouse fibroblast (NIH/3 T3) and colon cancer (Caco-2) cells. According to the results of the study, it was found that the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition antioxidant activity of naringin, berberine, and naringin or berberine encapsulated PMMA NPs, was significantly increased at higher tested concentrations due to the antioxidant effects of naringin, berberine and naringin or berberine encapsulated PMMA NPs. As a result of the cytotoxicity assay, after 24-, 48- and 72-h of exposure, all of the studied compounds caused cytotoxic effects in both cell lines. Genotoxic effects of studied compounds were not registered at lower tested concentrations. Based on these data, polymeric nanoparticles encapsulated with naringin or berberine may contribute to new treatment approaches for cancer, but further in vivo and in vitro research is required.

Effects of Berberine on Liver Cancer

Liver cancer, otherwise known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a chronic disease condition with an excessive deposition and growth of malignant cells in the body. The high incidence and prevalence rates of liver cancer continue to be problems, as well as its poor prognosis and therapeutic limitations involving severe drug adverse reactions linked to the use of synthetic chemotherapeutic compounds. Continuous experimental studies, as well as utilization of pure herbal-based compounds, are essential towards finding more potent cures for liver cancer. Natural bioactive compounds, particularly alkaloids (eg, berberine), have been shown to be highly beneficial in the treatment of various diseases. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, is obtained from stem, bark, roots, rhizomes, and leaves of several medicinal plants, including Berberis species. It is commonly synthesized from the benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline system with the incorporation of an additional carbon atom as a bridge. The multiple attributes of BBR involving effective inhibitory and cytotoxic actions against the proliferation of cancer cells have been demonstrated. The use of BBR in experimental studies (in vivo and in vitro) for over a decade for liver cancer treatment has proven to be highly effective, safe, and potent. Until now, the poor solubility of BBR remains one of the contributing factors leading to its minimal clinical bioavailability. Therefore, BBR could serve as a prospective drug candidate in the future towards drug formulation for liver cancer treatment. The relevant information regarding this review was obtained electronically through the use of databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, Hindawi, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. All the aforementioned databases were searched from 1981 to 2020. This literature represents an update of previous review papers discussing the various positive pharmacological and mechanistic effects (oxidative stress regulation, inflammation reduction, apoptosis activation, overcoming drug resistance, and metastasis inhibition) of BBR for liver cancer treatment, which would be of great significance to drug development and clinical research.

Oxoberberine: a promising natural antioxidant in physiological environments

Oxoberberine (OB, 2,10-dihydroxy-3,9-dimethoxy-8-oxo-protoberberine, artathomsonine), which was isolated from Artabotrys thomsonii, was shown to exhibit potent antioxidant activity in vitro, however that is the only reported evidence of the radical scavenging activity of this compound thus far. In the present study, thermodynamic and kinetic calculations were used to determine the free radical scavenging activity of OB against a range of biologically important species, under physiological conditions. In the first part the activity is calculated against the HOO˙ radical that is both biologically important and a reference radical for comparison. It was found that OB has high antiradical capacity against HOO˙ in both lipid medium and water at physiological pH with k overall = 1.33 × 105 and 1.73 × 106 M-1 s-1, respectively. The formal hydrogen transfer mechanism defined the activity in nonpolar environments, whereas in the aqueous solution the single electron transfer competes with the hydrogen transfer pathway. The results showed that, in lipid medium, the HOO˙ trapping capability of OB is better than typical antioxidants such as Trolox, BHT, resveratrol and ascorbic acid. Similarly, the activity of OB in water at pH 7.4 is roughly 19 and 7 times faster than those of Trolox and BHT, respectively, but slightly lower than the activities of resveratrol or ascorbic acid. In the second part, it was found that OB also exhibits high activity against other typical free radicals such as CH3O˙, CH3OO˙, CCl3OO˙, NO2, SO4˙-, DPPH and ABTS˙+ with k f ranging from 2.03 × 105 to 5.74 × 107 M-1 s-1. Hence, it is concluded that OB is a promising radical scavenger in the physiological environment.

Anticancer mechanisms of Berberine: a good choice for glioblastoma multiforme therapy

The most typical malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), seems to have a grim outcome, despite the intensive multi-modality interventions. Literature suggests that biologically active phytomolecules may exert anticancer properties by regulating several signaling pathways. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has various pharmacological applications to combat severe diseases like cancer. Mechanistically, Berberine inhibits cell proliferation and invasion, suppresses tumor angiogenesis, and induces cell apoptosis. The effect of the antitumoral effect of Berberine in GBM is increasingly recognized. This review sheds new light on the regulatory signaling mechanisms of Berberine in various cancer, proposing its potential role as a therapeutic agent for GBM. ‎.

Potential Role of Natural Products to Combat Radiotherapy and Their Future Perspectives

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) are the common cancer treatments. In addition to these limitations, the development of adverse effects from chemotherapy and RT reduces the quality of life for cancer patients. Cellular radiosensitivity, or the ability to resist and overcome cell damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR), is directly related to cancer cells' response to RT. Therefore, radiobiological research is emphasizing chemical compounds 'radiosensitization of cancer cells so that they are more reactive in the IR spectrum. Recent years researchers have seen an increase in interest in natural products that have antitumor effects with minimal side effects. Natural products, on the other hand, are easy to recover and therefore less expensive. There have been several scientific studies done based on these compounds that have tested their ability in vitro and in vivo to induce tumor radiosensitization. The role of natural products in RT, as well as their usefulness and potential applications, is the goal of this current review.

8a, a New Acridine Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Agent Targeting HDAC1/DNMT1

Epigenetic therapy using histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors has become an attractive project in new drug development. However, DNA methylation and histone acetylation are important epigenetic ways to regulate the occurrence and development of leukemia. Given previous studies, N-(2-aminophenyl)benzamide acridine (8a), as a histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) inhibitor, induces apoptosis and shows significant anti-proliferative activity against histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells. HDAC1 plays a role in the nucleus, which we confirmed by finding that 8a entered the nucleus. Subsequently, we verified that 8a mainly passes through the endogenous (mitochondrial) pathway to induce cell apoptosis. From the protein interaction data, we found that 8a also affected the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). Therefore, an experiment was performed to assess the binding of 8a to DNMT1 at the molecular and cellular levels. We found that the binding strength of 8a to DNMT1 enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, 8a inhibits the expression of DNMT1 mRNA and its protein. These findings suggested that the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities of 8a against leukemia cells were achieved by targeting HDAC1 and DNMT1.

A small molecule compound berberine as an orally active therapeutic candidate against COVID-19 and SARS: A computational and mechanistic study

The novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has grown into a global pandemic and a major public health threat since its breakout in December 2019. To date, no specific therapeutic drug or vaccine for treating COVID-19 and SARS has been FDA approved. Previous studies suggest that berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has shown various biological activities that may help against COVID-19 and SARS, including antiviral, anti-allergy and inflammation, hepatoprotection against drug- and infection-induced liver injury, as well as reducing oxidative stress. In particular, berberine has a wide range of antiviral activities such as anti-influenza, anti-hepatitis C, anti-cytomegalovirus, and anti-alphavirus. As an ingredient recommended in guidelines issued by the China National Health Commission for COVID-19 to be combined with other therapy, berberine is a promising orally administered therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The current study comprehensively evaluates the potential therapeutic mechanisms of berberine in preventing and treating COVID-19 and SARS using computational modeling, including target mining, gene ontology enrichment, pathway analyses, protein-protein interaction analysis, and in silico molecular docking. An orally available immunotherapeutic-berberine nanomedicine, named NIT-X, has been developed by our group and has shown significantly increased oral bioavailability of berberine, increased IFN-γ production by CD8+ T cells, and inhibition of mast cell histamine release in vivo, suggesting a protective immune response. We further validated the inhibition of replication of SARS-CoV-2 in lung epithelial cells line in vitro (Calu3 cells) by berberine. Moreover, the expression of targets including ACE2, TMPRSS2, IL-1α, IL-8, IL-6, and CCL-2 in SARS-CoV-2 infected Calu3 cells were significantly suppressed by NIT-X. By supporting protective immunity while inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines; inhibiting viral infection and replication; inducing apoptosis; and protecting against tissue damage, berberine is a promising candidate in preventing and treating COVID-19 and SARS. Given the high oral bioavailability and safety of berberine nanomedicine, the current study may lead to the development of berberine as an orally, active therapeutic against COVID-19 and SARS.

Intracellular ethanol-mediated oxidation and apoptosis in HepG2/CYP2E1 cells impaired by two active peptides from seahorse (Hippocampus kuda bleeler) protein hydrolysates via the Nrf2/HO-1 and akt pathways

Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda Bleeler) are representative marine species in aquaculture, with special value of medicine and food. In this study, the protective effects of two peptides from seahorse hydrolysates (SHP-1 and SHP-2) against ethanol-mediated oxidative stress in HepG2/CYP2E1 cells were investigated. Firstly, SHP-1 and SHP-2 presented no cytotoxicity. Compared with the ethanol-treated groups, SHP-1 and SHP-2 increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Secondly, SHP-1 and SHP-2 markedly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels and remarkably enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activities. SHP-1 and SHP-2 also down-regulated the expressions of GGT, bax, c-caspase-8/-9/-3, p-Akt, p-IκB-α, p-p65, p-ERK, and p-p38 but up-regulated SOD, GSH, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and bcl-2 levels, as revealed by Western blot analysis. Moreover, SHP-1 and SHP-2 increased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reduced DNA damage, and suppressed the nuclear translocation of p65. These results suggest that two peptides from seahorse hydrolysates can be considered a potential functional biomaterial and further improve the use value of seahorse in aquaculture.

Berberine Prolongs Mouse Heart Allograft Survival by Activating T Cell Apoptosis via the Mitochondrial Pathway

Berberine, which is a traditional Chinese medicine can inhibit tumorigenesis by inducing tumor cell apoptosis. However, the immunoregulatory of effects berberine on T cells remains poorly understood. Here, we first examined whether berberine can prolong allograft survival by regulating the recruitment and function of T cells. Using a major histocompatibility complex complete mismatch mouse heterotopic cardiac transplantation model, we found that the administration of moderate doses (5 mg/kg) of berberine significantly prolonged heart allograft survival to 19 days and elicited no obvious berberine-related toxicity. Compared to that with normal saline treatment, berberine treatment decreased alloreactive T cells in recipient splenocytes and lymph node cells. It also inhibited the activation, proliferation, and function of alloreactive T cells. Most importantly, berberine treatment protected myocardial cells by decreasing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and by inhibiting T cell function in allografts. In vivo and in vitro assays revealed that berberine treatment eliminated alloreactive T lymphocytes via the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, which was validated by transcriptome sequencing. Taken together, we demonstrated that berberine prolongs allograft survival by inducing apoptosis of alloreactive T cells. Thus, our study provides more evidence supporting the potential use of berberine in translational medicine.

Palladium-catalyzed dearomative cyclocarbonylation of allyl alcohol for the synthesis of quinolizinones

An approach for the synthesis of quinolizinone with potential bioactivity has been developed via palladium-catalytic dearomative cyclocarbonylation of allyl alcohol. Diverse quinolizinone compounds could be attained with good efficiencies. A feasible reaction pathway could be a successive procedure of allylation, dearomatization, CO insertion and the Heck reaction.

Berberine: A Comprehensive Review on its Isolation, Biosynthesis, Chemistry and Pharmacology

The isoquinoline compounds from alkaloidal class have been excellent source of important phytoconstituents having wide range of pharmacological activities. Berberine is a protoberberine alkaloidal compound obtained from Berberis genus plants which belongs to family Barberidaceae. Due to its unique structural properties, berberine and its derivatives has been exploited extensively for its potential uses in various pharmacological targets such as cancer, inflammation, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorder, viral and microbial infections, neurological disorder like Alzheimer, anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, etc. This review illustrates the updated information on berberine with respect to its isolation, biosynthesis, chemical synthesis, structural modification and pharmacological activities. An extensive literature search were carried out in various search engine like PubMed, Google Scholars, Research Gate and SCOPUS by using keywords like Berberine, protoberberine alkaloids, isoquinoline derivatives, pharmacological effects, etc. Prephenic acid is the starting material for biosynthesis of berberine. Structural modifications lead to generation of various potential derivatives, which earn patents by researchers. Besides toxicities, the complications of low solubility and bioavailability should be eliminated. To improve its safety, efficacy and selectivity the berberine should be carefully derivatized.

Advances in phytochemical and modern pharmacological research of Rhizoma Corydalis

ABSRACTContext: Rhizoma Corydalis (RC) is the dried tubers of Corydalis yanhusuo (Y. H. Chou and Chun C. Hsu) W. T. Wang ex Z. Y. Su and C. Y. Wu (Papaveraceae). Traditionally, RC is used to alleviate pain such as headache, abdominal pain, and epigastric pain. Modern medicine shows that it has analgesic, anti-arrhythmia, and other effects.Objective: We provided an overview of the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of RC as a foundation for its clinical application and further research and development of new drugs.Methods: We collected data of various phytochemical and pharmacological effects of RC from 1982 to 2019. To correlate with existing scientific evidence, we used Google Scholar and the journal databases Scopus, PubMed, and CNKI. 'Rhizoma Corydalis', 'phytochemistry', and 'pharmacological effects' were used as key words.Results: Currently, more than 100 chemical components have been isolated and identified from RC, among which alkaloid is the pimary active component of RC. Based on prior research, RC has antinociceptive, sedative, anti-epileptic, antidepressive and anti-anxiety, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect, drug abstinence, anti-arrhythmic, antimyocardial infarction, dilated coronary artery, cerebral ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury protection, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, antigastrointestinal ulcer, liver protection, antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, antiviral, and anticancer effects.Conclusions: RC is reported to be effective in treating a variety of diseases. Current pharmacological studies on RC mainly focus on the nervous, circulatory, digestive, and endocrine systems, as well as drug withdrawal. Although experimental data support the beneficial effects of this drug, its physiological activity remains a concern. Nonetheless, this review provides a foundation for future research.

Biological Activity of Berberine-A Summary Update

Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity. Currently, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends. The efficacy of berberine in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect. Many papers focus on novel therapeutic strategies based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives. The activity of berberine is very important as regards sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient therapeutics. Currently, the compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most promising and intensively examined natural agents.

The pharmacological activity of berberine, a review for liver protection

Liver plays an important role in bile synthesis, metabolic function, degradation of toxins, new substances synthesis in body. However, hepatopathy morbidity and mortality are increasing year by year around the world, which become a major public health problem. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a prominent role in the treatment of liver diseases due to its definite curative effect and small side effects. The hepatoprotective effect of berberine has been extensively studied, so we comprehensively summarize the pharmacological activities of lipid metabolism regulation, bile acid adjustment, anti-inflammation, oxidation resistance, anti-fibrosis and anti-cancer and so on. Besides, the metabolism and toxicity of berberine and its new formulations to improve its effectiveness are expounded, providing a reference for the safe and effective clinical use of berberine.

SIRT1 Activation by Natural Phytochemicals: An Overview

Sirtuins are class III histone deacetylases, whose enzymatic activity is dependent on NAD⁺ as a cofactor. Sirtuins are reported to modulate numerous activities by controlling gene expression, DNA repair, metabolism, oxidative stress response, mitochondrial function, and biogenesis. Deregulation of their expression and/or action may lead to tissue-specific degenerative events involved in the development of several human pathologies, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease. The most studied member of this class of enzymes is sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), whose expression is associated with increasing insulin sensitivity. SIRT1 has been implicated in both tumorigenic and anticancer processes, and is reported to regulate essential metabolic pathways, suggesting that its activation might be beneficial against disorders of the metabolism. Via regulation of p53 deacetylation and modulation of autophagy, SIRT1 is implicated in cellular response to caloric restriction and lifespan extension. In recent years, scientific interest focusing on the identification of SIRT1 modulators has led to the discovery of novel small molecules targeting SIRT1 activity. This review will examine compounds of natural origin recently found to upregulate SIRT1 activity, such as polyphenolic products in fruits, vegetables, and plants including resveratrol, fisetin, quercetin, and curcumin. We will also discuss the potential therapeutic effects of these natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of human disorders, with particular emphasis on their metabolic impact.

In-vitro and in-vivo anti-breast cancer activity of synergistic effect of berberine and exercise through promoting the apoptosis and immunomodulatory effects

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is the most common reason of cancer death in women. Berberine (BBR), a main alkaloid in Coptis chinensis, exerted anti-cancer activities. Exercise is a new immunotherapy treatment against cancer. However, it is unclear whether exercise has effects on breast cancer and whether exercise has synergistic anti-cancer effect when co-treated with BBR. Thus, it is assumed that exercise might exert an anti-cancer effect through the immune way.

METHOD

The anti-tumor effect of exercise and BBR in vivo was studied in mice. The MTT method, hoechst staining and cell morphology were performed to determine the synergistic effect of exercise and BBR on breast cancer in vitro. At the same time, Western blotting, intestinal microbial and SCFA detection, Q-PCR and other methods were used to study the anti-cancer molecular mechanism.

RESULTS

The study found that exercise and BBR co-treatment significantly slowed the progression of breast cancer in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice (p < 0.01). Compared with the TC group, the infiltration of NK cells increased in the combined group of BBR and exercise (p < 0.01), and the expression of immune factors and cytokines was also regulated. At the same time, the synergistic effect significantly increased the level of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). SCFA can promote apoptosis of 4T1 cells and change the inflammatory factors in vitro. The expression of bcl-2 and XIAP was reduced in tumor tissues, and the expression of Fas, Fadd, Bid, Cyto-C, and Caspase-3/8/9 was also increased in vitro experiments (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the synergistic treatment of exercise and BBR can improve the immune system, regulate intestinal microbial metabolite (SCFA), activate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and Fas death receptor apoptosis pathway, and thus play an anticancer role. This may provide a new method for the treatment of breast cancer.

Characterization of hydrocoptisonine metabolites in human liver microsomes using a high-resolution quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer

Hydrocoptisonine is a new compound that has been isolated from the rhizomes of Coptis chinensis, which belongs to the Ranunculaceae family of Chinese medicines. Although studies on C. chinensis have been reported, the metabolic pathway of hydrocoptisonine in human liver microsomes (HLMs) remains unelucidated. We identified 13 metabolites in HLMs, including six Phase I metabolites and seven glucuronide conjugates, using a high-resolution quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer. The major metabolic pathway was the O-demethylation and mono-hydroxylation of hydrocoptisonine in HLMs. Notably, M3 metabolite was O-demethylated in dioxolane structures (cyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-dione), which was mediated by cytochrome P450 1A2. The locations of hydroxylation and hydroxyl-glucuronidation were identified by analyzing the signature fragments generated as a result of tandem mass spectrometry, indicating hydroxylation at an aliphatic chain or aromatic ring. We determined whether the hydroxylation and glucuronidation occurred in an aromatic moiety (M5 and M12) or an aliphatic moiety (M6 and M13), respectively, based on signature fragments of the metabolites.

Kaempferide Induces G0/G1 Phase Arrest and Apoptosis via ROS-Mediated Signaling Pathways in A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells

Kaempferide is an O-methylated flavonol that has received much attention due to its various biological activities. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanisms of kaempferide in human lung cancer A549 cells. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide double staining, flow cytometry, scratch wound healing assay, and Western blot analysis were used to measure cell apoptosis, the cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and cell migration of human lung cancer cells. Kaempferide significantly inhibited human lung cancer cell proliferation, and its toxic effects on normal cells were significantly lower than those of 5-fluorouracil. Kaempferide induced A549 cell apoptosis by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression level of B-cell lymphoma 2, and by increasing the expression levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3. It also regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways by increasing the expression levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p-p38, I kappa B, and by decreasing the expression levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p-STAT3, and NF-κB. Kaempferide induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells by downregulating the expression levels of p-AKT, cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Furthermore, kaempferide blocked A549 cell migration by downregulating the expression levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), p-β-catenin, p-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, N-cadherin, and vimentin, and by upregulating the expression level of E-cadherin. Kaempferide enhanced the accumulation of ROS, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (a ROS inhibitor) decreased the regulation of MAPK, NF-κB, AKT, and TGF-β signaling pathways by kaempferide, inhibited cell apoptosis, and reversed cell cycle arrest. Our results showed that kaempferide induced apoptosis via ROS-mediated MAPK, NF-κB, AKT, and TGF-β signaling pathways in A549 cells. Thus, kaempferide may be a novel drug candidate for lung cancer.

The Anti-Cancer Mechanisms of Berberine: A Review

Berberine (BBR) has been extensively studied in vivo and vitro experiments. BBR inhibits cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle and cell autophagy, and promoting cell apoptosis. BBR also inhibits cell invasion and metastasis by suppressing EMT and down-regulating the expression of metastasis-related proteins and signaling pathways. In addition, BBR inhibits cell proliferation by interacting with microRNAs and suppressing telomerase activity. BBR exerts its anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties, and also regulates tumor microenvironment. This review emphasized that BBR as a potential anti-inflammation and antioxidant agent, also as an effective immunomodulator, is expected to be widely used in clinic for cancer therapy.

microRNA: The Impact on Cancer Stemness and Therapeutic Resistance

Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide, causing a large social and economic burden. However, most anti-cancer treatments face the problems of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, finding an effective cure for cancer needs to be solved urgently. Recently, the discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs) provides a new orientation for cancer research and therapy. CSCs share main characteristics with stem cells and are able to generate an entire tumor. Besides, CSCs usually escape from current anti-cancer therapies, which is partly responsible for tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. microRNAs (miRNAs) belong to small noncoding RNA and regulate gene post-transcriptional expression. The dysregulation of miRNAs leads to plenty of diseases, including cancer. The aberrant miRNA expression in CSCs enhances stemness maintenance. In this review, we summarize the role of miRNAs on CSCs in the eight most common cancers, hoping to bridge the research of miRNAs and CSCs with clinical applications. We found that miRNAs can act as tumor promoter or suppressor. The dysregulation of miRNAs enhances cell stemness and contributes to tumor metastasis and therapeutic resistance via the formation of feedback loops and constitutive activation of carcinogenic signaling pathways. More importantly, some miRNAs may be potential targets for diagnosis, prognosis, and cancer treatments.

Potential cytotoxic and anti-metastatic effects of berberine on gynaecological cancers with drug-associated resistance

Gynaecological disorders, such as cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers are the second most prevalent cancer types in women worldwide. Therapeutic approaches for gynaecological cancers involve chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, lifespan is not improved, and novel medications are required. Among various phytochemicals, berberine, a well-known natural product, has been shown to be a promising cancer chemopreventive agent. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of berberine have been investigated in the several experiments against numerous diseases. Here, we aimed to provide a literature review from available published investigations showing the anticancer effects of berberine and its various synthetic analogues against gynaecological disorders, including cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. In conclusion, berberine has been found to efficiently inhibit viability, proliferation, and migration of cancer cells, mainly, via induction of apoptosis by both mitochondrial dependent and -independent pathways. Additionally, structural modification of berberine showed that berberine analogues can improve its antitumor effects against gynaecological cancers.

Nutraceutical Compounds as Sensitizers for Cancer Treatment in Radiation Therapy

The improvement of diagnostic techniques and the efficacy of new therapies in clinical practice have allowed cancer patients to reach a higher chance to be cured together with a better quality of life. However, tumors still represent the second leading cause of death worldwide. On the contrary, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) still lack treatment plans which take into account the biological features of tumors and depend on this for their response to treatment. Tumor cells' response to RT is strictly-connected to their radiosensitivity, namely, their ability to resist and to overcome cell damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR). For this reason, radiobiological research is focusing on the ability of chemical compounds to radiosensitize cancer cells so to make them more responsive to IR. In recent years, the interests of researchers have been focused on natural compounds that show antitumoral effects with limited collateral issues. Moreover, nutraceuticals are easy to recover and are thus less expensive. On these bases, several scientific projects have aimed to test also their ability to induce tumor radiosensitization both in vitro and in vivo. The goal of this review is to describe what is known about the role of nutraceuticals in radiotherapy, their use and their potential application.

Dehydrocorydaline inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion via suppressing MEK1/2-ERK1/2 cascade in melanoma

Purpose: Alkaloids are naturally occurring chemical compounds that are widely distributed in plants, and have pharmaceutical values and low toxicity. In recent years, some of them have been demonstrated to be promising therapeutic drug candidates for cancer treatment. Herein, we tried to explore the antitumor effect of dehydrocorydaline (DHC), a natural alkaloid isolated from Corydalis, on malignant melanoma.

Methods: We treated two malignant metastatic melanoma cell lines, A375 and MV3, and a normal melanocyte cell line, PIG1, with various concentrations of DHC for set amounts of time, and detected cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by using MTT, BrdU, transwell, Western blot and soft agar assay in vitro and tumorigenicity in the xenografts in vivo.

Results: Our results showed that DHC dramatically blocked cell proliferation and led to cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and downregulated the expressions of cell cycle regulators CDK6 and Cyclin D1 in melanoma cells. However, DHC had little inhibitory effect on normal melanocyte cell line PIG-1. Meanwhile, DHC suppressed cell invasion and migration through modulating the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers including E-cadherin, vimentin, as well as β-catenin. In addition, DHC also significantly attenuated tumor growth in vivo. The expressions of cell cycle-related and metastasis-related proteins were further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining in the xenografts. Importantly, MEK1/2-ERK1/2 cascade was inactivated after DHC treatment and ERK activator t-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) treatment rescued DHC-induced cell proliferation inhibition.

Conclusions: Our results indicated that DHC inhibited cell proliferation and migration/invasion via inactivating MAPK signaling, and showed that DHC might be a potential novel drug to treat malignant melanoma.

Raman spectrum spectral imaging revealing the molecular mechanism of Berberine-induced Jurkat cell apoptosis and the receptor-mediated Berberine delivery system

Berberine (BBR), a traditional Chinese herb extract medicine, reveals some anticancer effects in leukemia, but it remains controversial about the molecular mechanism of BBR-induced leukemia cell apoptosis. In this study, combining Raman spectrum and spectral imaging, both the biochemical changes of BBR-induced Jurkat cell apoptosis and the precise distribution of BBR in single cell are presented. In contrast, we also show the corresponding results of Jatrorrhizine (JTZ) and Palmatine (PMT), two structural analogues of BBR. It is found that all three structural analogues can induce cell apoptosis by breaking DNA and the main action sites are located in phosphate backbone and base pair groups, but their action on cell cycle are different, in which BBR leads to the S phase arrest while JTZ and PMT are on the G2 phase arrest. Moreover, from the Raman spectra of DNA treated with different drugs, we find that the content of phosphate backbone and base pair groups in BBR-treated DNA are larger than those in JTZ or PMT. And this result reflects the strong capability of BBR breaking DNA backbone relative to JTZ or PMT, suggesting that the existence of methylene-dioxy on the 2, 3 units of A ring on the quinoline ring can greatly enhance the capability of BBR breaking DNA backbone, so the action effect of BBR-induced Jurkat cell apoptosis is better than those of PMT or JTZ. Further, by using Raman spectral imaging approach, we achieve the precise distribution of BBR in single cell, it is found that the receptor-mediated BBR targeting delivery based single-wall carbon nanotube and folic acid (SWNT/FA) reveals excellent performance in BBR targeting delivery relative to the conventional BBR diffusion approach. Importantly, these results demonstrate that Raman spectrum and spectral imaging should be a powerful tool to study the molecular mechanism of drug-induced cell apoptosis and evaluate the efficiency of drug delivery system.

Berberine Suppresses RANKL-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation by Inhibiting c-Fos and NFATc1 Expression

Osteoporosis is a common disorder of bone remodeling, marked by excessive osteoclast formation. Recent studies indicated that berberine (BBR) is a potential natural drug for the treatment of various bone diseases. However, it still needs to be further studied for the treatment of osteoporosis. The current study investigated the inhibitory effects of BBR on receptor activator of nuclear factor- κ B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Cell-based assays were performed using osteoclasts generated in cultures of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL and M-CSF. The effects of BBR on in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated bone loss were evaluated using ICR mice. BBR significantly inhibited TRAP-positive osteoclast formation induced by RANKL. BBR also inhibited RANKL-induced Akt, p38 and ERK phosphorylation and I κ B degradation, and suppressed RANKL-induced expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1), which is a key transcription factors for osteoclast formation. BBR reduced the mRNA levels of osteoclast markers, including TRAP, osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), cathepsin K, and ATPase H + transporting V0 subunit d2 (ATP6v0d2). Moreover, BBR prevented LPS-mediated bone loss in vivo. We suggest BBR as a natural compound that can be a potential therapeutic agent for osteoclast-related bone diseases.

Cytotoxicity of Air Pollutant 9,10-Phenanthrenequinone: Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Redox Signaling

Atmospheric pollution has been a principal topic recently in the scientific and political community due to its role and impact on human and ecological health. 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ) is a quinone molecule found in air pollution abundantly in the diesel exhaust particles (DEP). This compound has studied extensively and has been shown to develop cytotoxic effects both in vitro and in vivo. 9, 10-PQ has been proposed to play a critical role in the development of cytotoxicity via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through redox cycling. This compound also reduces expression of glutathione (GSH), which is critical in Phase II detoxification reactions. Understanding the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in cytotoxicity can allow for the development of therapeutics designed to target specific molecules significantly involved in the 9,10-PQ-induced ROS toxicity. This review highlights the developments in the understanding of the cytotoxic effects of 9, 10-PQ with special emphasis on the possible mechanisms involved.

Cholinesterase inhibitory alkaloids from the rhizomes of Coptis chinensis

Coptis chinensis has been used as a medicinal herb in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, chemical investigation of a water extract of C. chinensis identified two new quaternary protoberberines (1, 2), a new tricyclic amide (3), together with five known compounds. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analysis with 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution mass spectroscopy, as well as by comparison with those reported in the literature. Compounds 4, 5, and 7 showed potent inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC₅₀ values of 1.1, 5.6, and 12.9 μM, respectively. Compounds 2 and 4 showed inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) with IC₅₀ values of 11.5 and 27.8 μM, respectively. The kinetic activities were investigated to find out the type of enzyme inhibition involved. The types of AChE inhibition shown by compounds 5 and 7 were noncompetitive; BChE inhibition by compound 2 was also noncompetitive.

Pd-Catalyzed C(sp2)-H carbonylation of 2-benzylpyridines for the synthesis of pyridoisoquinolinones

An efficient synthesis of pyridoisoquinolinones, through Pd-catalyzed carbonylative annulation of 2-benzylpyridines, has been developed. The pyridinyl moiety in the substrate acts as both a directing group and an internal nucleophile for sp² C-H activation and pyridocarbonylation. The ready availability of 2-benzylpyridines as well as the operational practicality makes this transformation potentially useful for the synthesis of analogues of protoberberine alkaloids.

Studies on the Dual Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant Properties of Berberis vulgaris Extracts and Its Main Constituent Berberine

The present study attempts to investigate the cytotoxic activity of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the Moroccan Berberis vulgaris and its major component berberine, together with exploring their antioxidant properties. It also consists of studying the combination effect of berberine and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, against the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7). Using the MTT assay, we report a differential cytotoxic effect of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts since the ethanol extract is more cytotoxic than the ethyl acetate one, with IC₅₀ = 3.54 μg/mL and 596.71 μg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, no cytotoxic effect was observed against normal cells. Furthermore, these extracts showed a remarkable antioxidant activity as measured by the DPPH free radicals scavenging assay. In fact, the IC₅₀ values are 69.65 μg/mL and 77.75 μg/mL for the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. In addition, several concentrations of berberine, when combined with the NO donor used at IC₃₀, induced a synergistic cytotoxic activity at concentrations ranging from 8.40 μM to 33.60 μM, as revealed by the combination index values, using the Chou–Talalay method. However, at the other concentrations tested, an antagonistic effect was observed. The observed cytotoxicity was related to apoptosis induction as demonstrated by the annexin-V-streptavidin FITC-staining analysis.

Palladium-catalyzed CO-free cyclizative carbonylation of 2-benzylpyridines leading to pyridoisoquinolinones

A CO-free palladium-catalyzed cyclizative carbonylation of 2-benzylpyridines was developed, leading to pyridoisoquinolinones in moderate to good yields.

Regulatory effects of berberine on microRNome in Cancer and other conditions

Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in different plant families such as Berberidaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Papaveraceae. BBR is well-known for its anti-inflammatory, lipid-modifying, anticancer, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antiparasitic and fungicide activities. Multiple pharmacological actions of BBR stem from different molecular targets of this phytochemical. MicroRNAs (miRs) are single-stranded, evolutionary conserved, small non-coding RNA molecules with a length of 19-23 nucleotides that are involved in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression through binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of target mRNA. MiRs emerged as important regulatory elements in almost all biological processes like cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and organogenesis, and numerous human diseases such as cancer and diabetes. BBR was shown to regulate the expression of miRs in several diseases. Here, we reviewed the target miRs of BBR and the relevance of their modulation for the potential treatment of serious human diseases like multiple myeloma, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer and glioblastoma. The role of miR regulation in the putative anti-diabetic effects of BBR is discussed, as well.

Anticancer activities and mechanisms of heat-clearing and detoxicating traditional Chinese herbal medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, pathogenic heat and toxins, which are akin to the inflammatory factors, are the causes of cancer and could promote its virulent development. Therefore, heat-clearing and detoxicating (HCD) herbs are essential components of TCM formulas for cancer treatment. An increasing interest has been focused on the study of HCD herbs and accumulated evidences have shown that HCD herbs or HCD herbs-based formulas exhibited remarkable anticancer effects when used alone or combined with other therapeutic approaches. Some of the HCD herb-derived products have been tested in clinical trials. Studies revealed that extracts or pure compounds of the HCD herbs showed a broad anticancer spectrum against both solid and hematologic malignancies without significant toxic effects. Notably, some HCD herbs or formulas could strongly enhance the anticancer activities of chemo- or radio-therapy and alleviate their side effects. The anticancer activities of HCD herb exacts or the pure compounds were reported to be through multiple cellular or molecular mechanisms, such as induction of cancer cell apoptosis, differentiation and cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. In this review, we provide comprehensive analysis and summary of research progress and future prospects in this field to facilitate the further study and application of HCD herbs.

Induction of Apoptosis by Berberine in Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells via Downregulation of NF-κB

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly resistant to traditional chemotherapeutic approaches, which causes difficulty in the development of effective drugs for the treatment of HCC. Berberine, a major ingredient of Rhizoma coptidis, is a natural alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine. Berberine exhibits potent antitumor activity against HCC due to its high efficiency and low toxicity. In the present study, we found that berberine sensitized HepG cells to NF-κB-mediated apoptosis. Berberine exhibited a significant antiproliferation effect on the HepG2 cells and promoted apoptosis. Both qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining revealed that berberine reduced the NF-κB p65 levels in HepG2 cells. Moreover, p65 overexpression rescued berberine-induced cell proliferation and prevented HepG2 cells from undergoing apoptosis. These results suggest that berberine inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells by promoting apoptosis through the NF-κB p65 pathway.

Berberine inhibits the proliferation of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via an Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1-dependent mechanism

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy derived from the epithelial cells of the nasopharynx cavity, and is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In addition to NPC, EBV causes various human malignancies, such as gastric cancer, hematological tumors and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas. Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) encoded by EBV is indispensable for replication, partition, transcription and maintenance of viral genomes. Berberine, a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid, shows anti-inflammatory, anticholinergic, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In the present study, the antitumor effect of berberine was studied. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were performed to demonstrate whether the proliferation of EBV-positive NPC cells was inhibited by berberine. Flow cytometric results revealed that berberine induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Quantitative-PCR and western blotting results indicated that berberine decreased the expression of EBNA1 at both the mRNA and protein levels in the EBV-positive NPC cells. The function of EBNA1 promoter Qp which is to drive EBNA1 transcription in type Ⅱ latent infection was strongly suppressed by berberine. Overexpression of EBNA1 attenuated this inhibitory effect. Berberine also suppressed the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 which is a new therapeutic target in a series of malignancies, including NPC. Viral titer experiments demonstrated that berberine decreased the production of virions in HONE1 and HK1-EBV cells. In a mouse xenograft model of NPC induced by HONE1 cells, berberine significantly inhibited tumor formation. Altogether, these results indicate that berberine decreases the expression of EBNA1 and exhibits an antitumor effect against NPC both in vitro and in vivo.

Melatonin inhibits AP-2β/hTERT, NF-κB/COX-2 and Akt/ERK and activates caspase/Cyto C signaling to enhance the antitumor activity of berberine in lung cancer cells

Melatonin, a molecule produced throughout the animal and plant kingdoms, and berberine, a plant derived agent, both exhibit antitumor and multiple biological and pharmacological effects, but they have never been combined altogether for the inhibition of human lung cancers. In this study, we investigated the role and underlying mechanisms of melatonin in the regulation of antitumor activity of berberine in lung cancer cells. Treatment with melatonin effectively increased the berberine-mediated inhibitions of cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration, thereby enhancing the sensitivities of lung cancer cells to berberine. Melatonin also markedly increased apoptosis induced by berberine. Further mechanism study showed that melatonin promoted the cleavage of caspse-9 and PARP, enhanced the inhibition of Bcl2, and triggered the releasing of cytochrome C (Cyto C), thereby increasing the berberine-induced apoptosis. Melatonin also enhanced the berberine-mediated inhibition of telomerase reverses transcriptase (hTERT) by down-regulating the expression of AP-2β and its binding on hTERT promoter. Moreover, melatonin enhanced the berberine-mediated inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and its binding on COX-2 promoter. Melatonin also increased the berberine-mediated inhibition of the phosphorylated Akt and ERK. Collectively, our results demonstrated that melatonin enhanced the antitumor activity of berberine by activating caspase/Cyto C and inhibiting AP-2β/hTERT, NF-κB/COX-2 and Akt/ERK signaling pathways. Our findings provide new insights in exploring the potential therapeutic strategies and novel targets for lung cancer treatment.