Berberine.

PubMed · 10767672

Berberine.

Abstract

Berberine is a plant alkaloid with a long history of medicinal use in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. It is present in Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Coptis chinensis (Coptis or goldenthread), Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Berberis aristata (tree turmeric). The berberine alkaloid can be found in the roots, rhizomes, and stem bark of the plants. Berberine extracts and decoctions have demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against a variety of organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, helminths, and chlamydia. Currently, the predominant clinical uses of berberine include bacterial diarrhea, intestinal parasite infections, and ocular trachoma infections.

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Berberine Humans Molecular Structure Phytotherapy Journal Article

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2000. Berberine.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10767672/

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PubMed2026

Berberine shows potential in mitigating PM2.5-induced breast cancer progression by inducing DNA damage and inhibiting error-prone DNA repair pathways.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, with 2.3 million new cases reported globally in 2022. Alongside established risk factors such as age, family history, genetics, obesity, smoking, and alcohol, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has recently emerged as an environmental contributor. This risk is especially concerning for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where both PM2.5 exposure and cancer burden are disproportionately high; however, mechanistic studies from these regions remain limited. To address this gap and develop mitigation strategies, we investigated the oncogenic potential of water-soluble PM2.5 collected from ambient air on breast cancer and evaluated the potential role of nutraceuticals in mitigating these effects. PM2.5 exposure increased proliferation, migration, and ROS generation, while promoting the formation of multinucleated giant cells, leading to genomic instability. Berberine, a natural alkaloid, countered these effects by increasing DNA damage and exploiting tumor-specific genomic vulnerabilities through disruption of DNA damage response and repair networks, thereby promoting programmed cell death. Transcriptomic profiling of Delhi PM2.5-treated MCF7 cells revealed a Delhi PM2.5-associated carcinogenic gene signature enriched in MAPK signalling, reactive oxygen species, metabolic, lysosomal, and ribosomal pathways. We also found that several genes, including BIRC5, WSB1, and RCC1, within this PM2.5-induced gene signature were dysregulated in breast cancer patients and were inversely regulated by berberine treatment, suggesting that berberine counteracts the transcriptional effects of PM2.5. Our findings highlight ambient PM2.5 exposure as a driver of breast cancer progression and identify berberine as a promising candidate in mitigating PM2.5 effects; however, thorough preclinical and clinical validations are warranted.

Berberine↗

PubMed2025

Network pharmacology approach to unveiling the mechanism of berberine in the amelioration of morphine tolerance.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of the Huanglian decoction (, HLD) on morphine tolerance (MT), using network pharmacology, and to verify these mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Available biological data on each drug in the HLD were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. The target proteins of MT were retrieved from the GeneCards, PharmGkb, Therapeutic Target Database, DrugBank, and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases. Information regarding MT and the drug targets was compared to obtain overlapping elements. This information was imported into the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins platform to obtain a protein-protein interaction network diagram. Then, a "component-target" network diagram was constructed using screened drug components and target information, viaCytoscape (Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA). The database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery was used for Gene Ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways analyses. Pathway information predicted by network pharmacology was verified using animal studies and cell experiments. RESULTS: Network pharmacology analysis identified 22 active compounds of HLD and revealed that HLD partially ameliorated MT by modulating inflammatory, apoptosis, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Berberine (BBR), one of the main components of HLD, inhibited the development of MT in mice. BBR reduced cell viability while increasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein expression and decreasing CD86, NF-κB, Bax, and Caspase-3 protein expression in brain vascular 2 (BV2) mcroglia cells treated with morphine. Additionally, BBR contributed to a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine release and apoptotic cell number. CONCLUSIONS: BBR, a key component of HLD, effectively suppressed microglial activation and neuro-inflammation by regulating the NF-κB and apoptosis signaling pathways, thereby delaying MT. This study offers a novel approach to enhance the clinical analgesic efficacy of morphine.

Berberine↗

PubMed2002

Thermodynamic study on the effects of beta-cyclodextrin inclusion with berberine.

The fluorescence enhancement of berberine (Berb) as a result of complex with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) is investigated. The association constants of alpha-CD and beta-CD with Berb are 60 and 137 M(-1) at 20 degrees C in pH 7.20 aqueous solution. Effects of temperature on the forming inclusion complexes of beta-CD with Berb have been examined through using fluorescence titration. Enthalpy and entropy values calculated from fluorescence data are -33.7 kJ mol(-1) and 74.3 J x mol(-1) K(-1) respectively. It was found that the dielectric constant of beta-CD cavity is about 24 in a rough analogy with absolute alcohol. These results suggest that the extrusion of 'high energy water' molecules from the cavity of beta-CD and hydrophobic interaction upon the inclusion complex formation are the main forces of the inclusion reaction. Effect of pH on the association of beta-CD with Berb was also studied. Mechanism of the inclusion of beta-CD with Berb is further studied by absorption and NMR measurements. Results show that beta-CD forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with Berb.

Berberine↗