Berberine and neurodegeneration: A review of literature

Prepubertal Repeated Berberine Supplementation Enhances Cerebrocerebellar Functions by Modulating Neurochemical and Behavioural Changes in Wistar Rats

Antioxidant-rich supplementation plays an essential role in the function of mammals' central nervous system. However, no research has documented the effect of berberine (BER) supplementation on the cerebrocerebellar function of prepubertal rats. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of BER supplementation on neurochemical and behavioural changes in prepubertal male rats. Five groups (90 ± 5 g, n = 7 each) of experimental rats were orally treated with corn oil or different doses of BER (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw) from the 28th at 68 post-natal days. On the 69 days of life, animals underwent behavioural assessment in the open field, hanging wire, and negative geotaxis tests. The result revealed that BER administration improved locomotive and motor behaviour by increasing distance travelled, line crossings, average speed, time mobile, and absolute turn angle in open field test and decrease in time to re-orient on an incline plane, a decrease in immobility time relative to the untreated control. Furthermore, BER supplementation increased (p < 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, and TSH and prevented increases (p < 0.05) in oxidative and inflammatory levels as indicated by decreases in RONS, LPO, XO, carbonyl protein, NO, MPO, and TNF-α compared to the untreated control. BER-treated animals a lessened number of dark-stained Nissl cells compared to the untreated control rats. Our findings revealed that BER minimised neuronal degeneration and lesions, improved animal behaviour, and suppressed oxidative and inflammatory mediators, which may probably occur through its agonistic effect on PPAR-α, PPAR-δ, and PPAR-γ - essential proteins known to resolve inflammation and modulate redox signalling towards antioxidant function.

Bitter yet beneficial: The dual role of dietary alkaloids in managing diabetes and enhancing cognitive function

With the rising prevalence of diabetes and its association with cognitive impairment, interest in the use of dietary alkaloids and other natural products has grown significantly. Understanding how these compounds manage diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is crucial. This comprehensive review explores the etiology of DCD and the effects of alkaloids in foods and dietary supplements that have been investigated as DCD therapies. Data on how dietary alkaloids like berberine, trigonelline, caffeine, capsaicin, 1-deoxynojirimycin, nuciferine, neferine, aegeline, tetramethylpyrazine, piperine, and others regulate cognition in diabetic disorders were collected from PubMed, Research Gate, Web of Science, Science Direct, and other relevant databases. Dietary alkaloids could improve memory in behavioral models and modulate the mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of these compounds, including their effects on glucose metabolism, gut microbiota, vasculopathy, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Evidence suggests that dietary alkaloids hold promise for improving cognition in diabetic patients and could open exciting avenues for future research in diabetes management.

Unveiling Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: from biosynthesis to antiviral potential - a review

Covering: 2017 to 2023 (now)Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) are a unique class of specialized metabolites containing heterocyclic nitrogen bridging that play a distinct role in higher plants. Irrespective of their diverse structures, most AAs are biosynthesized via intramolecular oxidative coupling. The complex organization of biosynthetic pathways is constantly enlightened by new insights owing to the advancement of natural product chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, systems and synthetic biology tools and applications. These promote novel compound identification, trace-level metabolite quantification, synthesis, and characterization of enzymes engaged in AA catalysis, enabling the recognition of biosynthetic pathways. A complete understanding of the pathway benefits biotechnological applications in the long run. This review emphasizes the structural diversity of the AA specialized metabolites involved in biogenesis although the process is not entirely defined yet. Moreover, this work underscores the pivotal role of synthetic and enantioselective studies in justifying biosynthetic conclusions. Their prospective candidacy as lead constituents for antiviral drug discovery has also been established. However, a complete understanding of the pathway requires further interdisciplinary efforts in which antiviral studies address the structure-activity relationship. This review presents current knowledge on the topic.

Differences in Metabolite Profiles of Dihydroberberine and Micellar Berberine in Caco-2 Cells and Humans-A Pilot Study

We investigated the pharmacokinetic pathway of berberine and its metabolites in vitro, in Caco-2 cells, and in human participants following the administration of dihydroberberine (DHB) and micellar berberine (LipoMicel®, LMB) formulations. A pilot trial involving nine healthy volunteers was conducted over a 24 h period; blood samples were collected and subjected to Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) analyses to quantify the concentrations of berberine and its metabolites. Pharmacokinetic correlations indicated that berberrubine and thalifendine follow distinct metabolic pathways. Additionally, jatrorrhizine sulfate appeared to undergo metabolism differently compared to the other sulfated metabolites. Moreover, berberrubine glucuronide likely has a unique metabolic pathway distinct from other glucuronides. The human trial revealed significantly higher blood concentrations of berberine metabolites in participants of the DHB treatment group compared to the LMB treatment group-except for berberrubine glucuronide, which was only detected in the LMB treatment group. Similarly, results from in vitro investigations showed significant differences in berberine metabolite profiles between DHB and LMB. Dihydroberberine, dihydroxy-berberrubine/thalifendine and jatrorrhizine sulfate were detected in LMB-treated cells, but not in DHB-treated cells; thalifendine and jatrorrhizine-glucuronide were detected in DHB-treated cells only. While DHB treatment provided higher blood concentrations of berberine and most berberine metabolites, both in vitro (Caco-2 cells) and in vivo human studies showed that treatment with LMB resulted in a higher proportion of unmetabolized berberine compared to DHB. These findings suggest potential clinical implications that merit further investigation in future large-scale trials.

Optic Nerve Neuroprotection in Glaucoma: A Narrative Review

In recent years, researchers have been interested in neuroprotective therapies as a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy to treat neurodegenerative disorders by shielding the brain system from harmful events. Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from glaucoma, an ocular neurodegenerative disease characterized by gradual excavation of the optic nerve head, retinal axonal damage, and consequent visual loss. The pathology's molecular cause is still mostly unknown, and the current treatments are not able to alter the disease's natural progression. Thus, the modern approach to treating glaucoma consists of prescribing medications with neuroprotective properties, in line with the treatment strategy suggested for other neurodegenerative diseases. For this reason, several naturally derived compounds, including nicotinamide and citicoline, have been studied throughout time to try to improve glaucoma management by exploiting their neuroprotective properties. The purpose of this review is to examine the naturally derived compounds that are currently utilized in clinical practice for neuroprotection in glaucomatous patients based on scientific data, emphasizing these compounds' pivotal mechanism of action as well as their proven therapeutic and neuroprotective benefits.

Preventing amyloid-β oligomerization and aggregation with berberine: Investigating the mechanism of action through computational methods

Neurological disorders (NDs) have become a major cause of both cognitive and physical disabilities worldwide. In NDs, misfolded proteins tend to adopt a β-sheet-rich fibrillar structure called amyloid. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plays a crucial role in the nervous system. The misfolding and aggregation of Aβ are primary factors in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibiting the oligomerization and aggregation of Aβ is considered as an effective strategy against NDs. While it is known that berberine analogs exhibit anti-Aβ aggregation properties, the precise mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we have employed computational approaches to unravel the possible mechanism by which berberine combats Aβ aggregation. The introduction of berberine was observed to delay the equilibrium of Aβ16-21 oligomerization. Initially, within the first 10 ns of simulation, β-sheets content was 12.89 % and gradually increased to 22.19 % within the first 20 ns. This upward trend continued, reaching 32.80 %. However, berberine substantially reduced the formation of β-sheets to 1.36 %. These findings decipher the potency of berberine against Aβ16-21 oligomerization, a crucial step for β-sheet formation. Additionally, a remarkable decrease in total number of hydrogen bonds was found in the presence of berberine. Berberine also led to a slight reduction in the flexibility of Aβ16-21, which may be due to the formation of a more stable structures. This study offers valuable insights at the mechanistic level, which could prove beneficial in the development of new drugs to combat NDs.

Berberine: Pharmacological Features in Health, Disease and Aging

BACKGROUND

Berberine is the main active compound of different herbs and is defined as an isoquinoline quaternary botanical alkaloid found in barks and roots of numerous plants. It exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects. Berberine has antibacterial activity against a variety of microbiota, including many bacterial species, protozoa, plasmodia, fungi, and trypanosomes.

OBJECTIVE

This review describes the role of berberine and its metabolic effects. It also discusses how it plays a role in glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, weight loss, how it modulates the gut microbiota, and what are its antimicrobial properties along with its potential side effects with maximal tolerable dosage.

METHODS

Representative studies were considered and analyzed from different scientific databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, for the years 1982-2022.

RESULTS

Literature analysis shows that berberine affects many biochemical and pharmacological pathways that theoretically yield a positive effect on health and disease. Berberine exhibits neuroprotective properties in various neurodegenerative and neuropsychological ailments. Despite its low bioavailability after oral administration, berberine is a promising tool for several disorders. A possible hypothesis would be the modulation of the gut microbiome. While the evidence concerning the aging process in humans is more limited, preliminary studies have shown positive effects in several models.

CONCLUSION

Berberine could serve as a potential candidate for the treatment of several diseases. Previous literature has provided a basis for scientists to establish clinical trials in humans. However, for obesity, the evidence appears to be sufficient for hands-on use.

Testing biological actions of medicinal plants from northern Vietnam on zebrafish embryos and larvae: Developmental, behavioral, and putative therapeutical effects

Evaluating the risks and benefits of using traditional medicinal plants is of utmost importance for a huge fraction of the human population, in particular in Northern Vietnam. Zebrafish are increasingly used as a simple vertebrate model for testing toxic and physiological effects of compounds, especially on development. Here, we tested 12 ethanolic extracts from popular medicinal plants collected in northern Vietnam for their effects on zebrafish survival and development during the first 4 days after fertilization. We characterized more in detail their effects on epiboly, hatching, growth, necrosis, body curvature, angiogenesis, skeletal development and mostly increased movement behavior. Finally, we confirm the effect on epiboly caused by the Mahonia bealei extract by staining the actin filaments and performing whole genome gene expression analysis. Further, we show that this extract also inhibits cell migration of mouse embryo fibroblasts. Finally, we analyzed the chemical composition of the Mahonia bealei extract and test the effects of its major components. In conclusion, we show that traditional medicinal plant extracts are able to affect zebrafish early life stage development to various degrees. In addition, we show that an extract causing delay in epiboly also inhibits mammalian cell migration, suggesting that this effect may serve as a preliminary test for identifying extracts that inhibit cancer metastasis.

Mitigating neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease: Exploring the role of proinflammatory cytokines and the potential of phytochemicals as natural therapeutics

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neuroinflammatory illnesses, characterized by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Proinflammatory cytokines play a key role in initiating and perpetuating neuroinflammation, which can lead to the activation of glial cells and the deregulation of inflammatory pathways, ultimately leading to permanent brain damage. Currently, available drugs for PD mostly alleviate symptoms but do not target underlying inflammatory processes. There is a growing interest in exploring the potential of phytochemicals to mitigate neuroinflammation. Phytochemicals such as resveratrol, apigenin, catechin, anthocyanins, amentoflavone, quercetin, berberine, and genistein have been studied for their ability to scavenge free radicals and reduce proinflammatory cytokine levels in the brain. These plant-derived compounds offer a natural and potentially safe alternative to conventional drugs for managing neuroinflammation in PD and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, further research is necessary to elucidate their underlying mechanisms of action and clinical effectiveness. So, this review delves into the pathophysiology of PD and its intricate relationship with proinflammatory cytokines, and explores how their insidious contributions fuel the disease's initiation and progression via cytokine-dependent signaling pathways. Additionally, we tried to give an account of PD management using existing drugs along with their limitations. Furthermore, our aim is to provide a thorough overview of the diverse groups of phytochemicals, their plentiful sources, and the current understanding of their anti-neuroinflammatory properties. Through this exploration, we posit the innovative idea that consuming nutrient-rich phytochemicals could be an effective approach to preventing and treating PD.

Neuroprotective Properties of Berberine: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid natural product, is isolated primarily from Coptis chinensis and other Berberis plants. BBR possesses various bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, immune-regulation, and antimicrobial activities. Growing scientific evidence underscores BBR's substantial neuroprotective potential, prompting increased interest and scrutiny. In this comprehensive review, we elucidate the neuroprotective attributes of BBR, delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms, and assess its clinical safety and efficacy. The multifaceted molecular mechanisms responsible for BBR's neuroprotection encompass the attenuation of oxidative stress, mitigation of inflammatory responses, inhibition of apoptotic pathways, facilitation of autophagic processes, and modulation of CYP450 enzyme activities, neurotransmitter levels, and gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, BBR engages numerous signaling pathways, including the PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, AMPK, CREB, Nrf2, and MAPK pathways, to confer its neuroprotective effects. This comprehensive review aims to provide a substantial knowledge base, stimulate broader scientific discourse, and facilitate advancements in the application of BBR for neuroprotection.

Berberine improves negative symptoms and cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia via anti-inflammatory effect: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Based on the neuroinflammation hypothesis in schizophrenia and known anti-inflammatory effects of berberine, the aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of berberine in treating negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in adult patients with chronic schizophrenia.

METHODS

Enrolled participants were randomized to receive berberine or placebo for 3 months. The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Trail-making Test A (TMT-A), Trail-making Test B (TMT-B), and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) were used to evaluate the negative symptoms and cognitive function at four-time points (baseline, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd month). Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were used as inflammatory markers. 106 patients with per-protocol were analyzed, 56 in the experimental (berberine) group and 50 in the control (placebo) group.

RESULTS

From baseline to month 3, patients receiving berberine demonstrated a decrease in total scores on clinical scales SANS, TMT-A and TMT-B and showed a serum level reduction of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α comparing with patients in the control group (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between the change of serum IL-1β level and the change of SANS (r = 0.210, P = 0.039), TMT-A (r = 0.522, P < 0.001), and TMT-B (r = 0.811, P < 0.001); between the change of serum IL-6 level and the change of TMT-A (r = 0.562, P < 0.001), and TMT-B (r = 0.664, P < 0.001); between the change of serum TNF-α level and the change of TMT-B (r = 0.472, P < 0.001) after berberine treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Berberine is an anti-inflammatory agent that can potentially mitigate the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.

Nutraceuticals and phytotherapeutics for holistic management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" (ALS) is a progressive neuronal disorder that affects sensory neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Moreover, additional neuronal subgroups as well as glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes are also thought to play a role in the aetiology. The disease affects upper motor neurons and lowers motor neurons and leads to that either lead to muscle weakness and wasting in the arms, legs, trunk and periventricular area. Oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, programmed cell death, altered neurofilament activity, anomalies in neurotransmission, abnormal protein processing and deterioration, increased inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction may all play a role in the progression of ALS. There are presently hardly FDA-approved drugs used to treat ALS, and they are only beneficial in slowing the progression of the disease and enhancing functions in certain individuals with ALS, not really in curing or preventing the illness. These days, researchers focus on understanding the pathogenesis of the disease by targeting several mechanisms aiming to develop successful treatments for ALS. This review discusses the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, clinical features, pathophysiology, and disease management. The compilation focuses on alternative methods for the management of symptoms of ALS with nutraceuticals and phytotherapeutics.

Tetrahydroberberrubine retards heart aging in mice by promoting PHB2-mediated mitophagy

Heart aging is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, which in turn induces a variety of cardiovascular diseases. There is still no therapeutic drug to ameliorate cardiac abnormities in heart aging. In this study we investigated the protective effects of berberine (BBR) and its derivative tetrahydroberberrubine (THBru) against heart aging process. Heart aging was induced in mice by injection of D-galactose (D-gal, 120 mg · kg-1 · d-1, sc.) for 12 weeks. Meanwhile the mice were orally treated with berberine (50 mg · kg-1 · d-1) or THBru (25, 50 mg · kg-1 · d-1) for 12 weeks. We showed that BBR and THBru treatment significantly mitigated diastolic dysfunction and cardiac remodeling in D-gal-induced aging mice. Furthermore, treatment with BBR (40 μM) and THBru (20, 40 μM) inhibited D-gal-induced senescence in primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes in vitro. Overall, THBru exhibited higher efficacy than BBR at the same dose. We found that the levels of mitophagy were significantly decreased during the aging process in vivo and in vitro, THBru and BBR promoted mitophagy with different potencies. We demonstrated that the mitophagy-inducing effects of THBru resulted from increased mRNA stability of prohibitin 2 (PHB2), a pivotal factor during mitophagy, thereby upregulating PHB2 protein expression. Knockdown of PHB2 effectively reversed the antisenescence effects of THBru in D-gal-treated cardiomyocytes. On the contrary, overexpression of PHB2 promoted mitophagy and retarded cardiomyocyte senescence, as THBru did. In conclusion, this study identifies THBru as a potent antiaging medicine that induces PHB2-mediated mitophagy and suggests its clinical application prospects.

Multitargeted C9-substituted ester and ether derivatives of berberrubine for Alzheimer's disease: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetics

Berberrubine is a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid and a bioactive metabolite of berberine. Berberine exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including cholinesterase inhibition. The cholinesterase inhibitors provide symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer's disease; however, multitarget-directed ligands have the potential as disease-modifying therapeutics. Herein, we prepared a series of C9-substituted berberrubine derivatives intending to discover dual cholinesterase and beta-site amyloid-precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE-1) inhibitors. Most synthesized derivatives possessed balanced dual inhibition (AChE and BChE) activity in the submicromolar range and a moderate inhibition against BACE-1. Two most active ester derivatives, 12a and 11d, display inhibition of AChE, BChE, and BACE-1. The 3-methoxybenzoyl ester derivative, 12a, inhibits electric eel acetylcholinesterase (EeAChE), equine serum butyrylcholinesterase (eqBChE), and human hBACE-1 with IC₅₀ values of 0.5, 4.3, and 11.9 μM, respectively and excellent BBB permeability (P_e  = 8 × 10^-6  cm/s). The ester derivative 12a is metabolically unstable; however, its ether analog 13 is stable in HLM and exhibits inhibition of AChE, BChE, and BACE-1 with IC₅₀ values of 0.44, 3.8, and 17.9 μM, respectively. The ether analog also inhibits self-aggregation of Aβ and crosses BBB (P_e  = 7.3 × 10^-6  cm/s). Administration of 13 at 5 mg/kg (iv) in Wistar rats showed excellent plasma exposure with AUC_0-∞ of 28,834 ng min/ml. In conclusion, the multitargeted berberrubine ether derivative 13 is CNS permeable and has good ADME properties.

Natural remedies for Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the common type of dementia and is currently incurable. Existing FDA-approved AD drugs may not be effective for everyone, they cannot cure the disease nor stop its progression and their effects diminish over time. Therefore, the present review aimed to explore the role of natural alternatives in the treatment of AD. A systematic search was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane and PubMed databases and reference lists up to November 30, 2021. Only randomized control trials were included and appraised using the National Institute of Health framework. Data analysis showed that herbs like Gingko Biloba, Melissa Officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Ginseng and saffron alone or in combination with curcumin, low-fat diet, NuAD-Trail, and soy lecithin showed significant positive effects on AD. Moreover, combination of natural and pharmaceuticals has far better effects than only allopathic treatment. Thus, different herbal remedies in combination with FDA approved drugs are effective and more promising in treatment of AD.

Tetraphenylethylene sulfonate derivative as turn-on fluorescent sensor for berberine chloride detection in aqueous solution

A negatively-charged tetraphenylethylene derivative (TPE-SE) was designed and synthesized as turn-on fluorescent sensor for berberine chloride (BBC) detection in aqueous solution. The fluorescent property and detection mechanism were elucidated by UV-vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence spectra, dynamic light scattering experiments. The results reveal that the BBC can lead to aggregation-induced emission of TPE-SE due to the electrostatic interactions, endowing TPE-SE with excellent turn-on detecting ability, high selectivity and sensitivity to BBC. The detection limit is as low as 6.58 × 10^-6M. These results should be applicable to fabricate special turn-on fluorescent sensors towards various antibiotics, and it is crucially important for achieving reasonable control and intake of small biomolecules.

Neuroprotective Effect of Root Extracts of Berberis Vulgaris (Barberry) on Oxidative Stress on SH-SY5Y Cells

Objectives

Oxidative stress plays a key role in chronic and acute brain disorders and neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegeneration symptoms. The neuroprotective effects of berberine and Berberis vulgaris (barberry) root extract against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the human SH-SY5Y cell line were studied.

Methods

The methanolic extraction of barberry root was performed using a maceration procedure. Oxidative stress was induced in SH-SY5Y cells by H₂O₂, and an MTT assay was applied to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of berberine and barberry root extract. The cells were pretreated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each compound (including berberine, barberry root extract, and H₂O₂), and the anti-apoptotic effects of all components were investigated using RT-PCR.

Results

The SH-SY5Y cell viability increased in both groups exposed to 75 and 150 ppm barberry extract compared with that in the H₂O₂-treated group. The data showed that exposing SH-SY5Y cells to 30 ppm berberine significantly increased the cell viability compared with the H₂O₂-treated group; treatment with 150 and 300 ppm berberine and H₂O₂ significantly decreased the SH-SY5Y cell viability and was associated with berberine cytotoxicity. The mRNA levels of Bax decreased significantly under treatment with berberine at 30 ppm compared with the control group. A significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was observed only after treatment with the IC₅₀ of berberine. The expression level of Bcl-2 in cells exposed to both berberine and barberry extracts was also significantly higher than that in cells exposed to H₂O₂.

Conclusion

The outcomes of this study suggest that treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with barberry extract and berberine could suppress apoptosis by regulating the actions of Bcl-2 family members.

Encapsulation of berberine decorated ZnO nano-colloids into injectable hydrogel using for diabetic wound healing

Chronic wound healing in diabetic patients had been considered a major clinical challenge, so there was an urgent need to establish more effective treatment methods. In this study, we prepared berberine-modified ZnO nano-colloids hydrogel (ZnO-Ber/H) and evaluated its wound healing performance in a diabetic rat. The prepared ZnO-Ber/H had excellent moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress abilities. In vitro, ZnO-Ber/H could effectively up-regulate antioxidant stress factors (Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1) by 4.65-fold, 2.49-fold, 2.56-fold, respectively. In vivo experiments have shown that ZnO-Ber/H could effectively improve the wound healing rate (92.9%) after 15 days of treatment. Meanwhile, the ability of anti-oxidative stress had also been verified in vivo. ZnO-Ber/H down-regulated inflammatory factor (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) by 72.8%, 55% and 71% respectively, up-regulated vascular related factors VEGF and CD31 by 3.9-fold and 3.2-fold by Western blot. At the same time, ZnO-Ber/H could promote the expression of EGFR and FGFR, thereby affecting the generation of new epithelial tissue. Based on extensive characterization and biological evaluation, ZnO-Ber/H was expected to be a potential candidate for promoting diabetic wound healing.

Pentoxifylline and berberine mitigate diclofenac-induced acute nephrotoxicity in male rats via modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress

Nephrotoxicity (NT) is a renal-specific situation caused by different toxins and drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs like diclofenac (DCF) lead to glomerular dysfunction. Pentoxifylline (PTX) and berberine (BER) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the ameliorative effect of PTX, BER and their combination against DCF-mediated acute NT. Induction of acute NT was done via DCF injection (150 mg/kg I.P, for 6 days) in rats. PTX 200 mg/kg, BER 200 mg/kg and their combination were administrated for 6 days prior to DCF injection and concurrently with DCF for additional 6 days. Acute NT was evaluated biochemically and histopathologically by measuring blood urea (BU), serum creatinine (SCr), kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1), integrin (ITG), and vitronectin (VTN), interleukin (IL)-18, Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) with the scoring of histopathological alterations. PTX, BER and their combination significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated biochemical and histopathological changes in DCF-mediated acute NT by amelioration of BU, SCr, KIM-1, ITG, VTN, IL-18, NGAL, GFR, SOD, GSH, MDA and scoring of histopathological alterations. The combined effects of PTX and BER produced more significant effects (P < 0.05) than either PTX or BER when used alone against DCF-induced acute NT. In conclusion, BER and BTX were found to have potential renoprotective effects against DCF-induced NT in rats by inhibiting inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress.

Berberine Ameliorate Haloperidol and 3-Nitropropionic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

Berberine due to its antioxidant properties, has been used around the globe significantly to treat several brain disorders. Also, oxidative stress is a pathological hallmark in neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease (HD) and Tardive dyskinesia (TD). Berberine an alkaloid from plants has been reported to have neuroprotective potential in several animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of berberine in the animal model of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) induced HD and haloperidol induced tardive dyskinesia with special emphasis on its antioxidant property. The study protocol was divided into 2 phases, first phase involved the administration of 3-NP and berberine at the dose of (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p) and orally (p.o.) respectively for 21 days, and the following parameters (rotarod, narrow beam walk and photoactometer) as a measure of motor activity and striatal and cortical levels of (LPO, GSH, SOD, catalase, and nitrate) evaluated as a measure of oxidative stress were assessed for HD. Similarly in the second phase, TD was induced by using haloperidol, for 21 days and berberine at the dose of (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was administered, and both physical and biochemical parameters were assessed as mentioned for the HD study. The resultant data indicated that berberine attenuate 3-NP and haloperidol-induced behavioral changes and improved the antioxidant capcity in rodents. Hence berberine might be a novel therapeutic candidate to manage TD & HD.

Exploration of Isoquinoline Alkaloids as Potential Inhibitors against Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most concerning public health problems because of its high incidence, multiple complications, and difficult treatment. Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is closely linked to T2DM because its abnormal self-assembly causes membrane damage and cell dysfunction. The development of potential inhibitors to prevent hIAPP fibrillation is a promising strategy for the intervention and treatment of diabetes. Natural isoquinoline alkaloids are used as effective medication that targets different biomolecules. Although studies explored the efficacy of berberine, jatrorrhizine, and chelerythrine in diabetes, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Herein, three isoquinoline alkaloids are selected to reveal their roles in hIAPP aggregation, disaggregation, and cell protection. All three compounds displayed good inhibitory effects on peptide fibrillation, scattered the preformed fibrils into small oligomers and most monomers, and upregulated cell viability by reducing hIAPP oligomerization. Moreover, combined biophysical analyses indicated that the compounds affected the β-sheet structure and hydrophobicity of polypeptides significantly, and the benzo[c]phenanthridine structure of chelerythrine was beneficial to the inhibition of hIAPP aggregation and their hydrophobic interaction, compared with that of berberine and jatrorrhizine. Our work elaborated the effects of these alkaloids on hIAPP fibrillation and reveals a possible mechanism for these compounds against T2DM.

Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate the Pharmacologic Mechanisms of Coptidis Rhizoma for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming a more prevalent public health issue in today's culture. The experimental study of Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) and its chemical components in AD treatment has been widely reported, but the principle of multi-level and multi-mechanism treatment of AD urgently needs to be clarified.

Objective

This study focuses on network pharmacology to clarify the mechanism of CR's multi-target impact on Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

The Phytochemical-compounds of CR have been accessed from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Symmap database or HPLC determination. The values of Oral Bioavailability (OB) ≥ 30% and Drug Like (DL) ≥ 0.18 or blood ingredient were used to screen the active components of CR; the interactive network of targets and compounds were constructed by STRING and Cytoscape platform, and the network was analyzed by Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE); Gene Ontology (GO) function, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway (KEGG) and metabolic pathway enrichment of targets were carried out with Metascape, the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and MetaboAnalyst platform; Based on CytoHubba, the potential efficient targets were screened by Maximal Clique Centrality (MCC) and Degree, the correlation between potential efficient targets and amyloid β-protein (Aβ), Tau pathology was analyzed by Alzdata database, and the genes related to aging were analyzed by Aging Altas database, and finally, the core targets were obtained; the binding ability between ingredients and core targets evaluated by molecular docking, and the clinical significance of core targets was assessed with Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Results

19 active components correspond to 267 therapeutic targets for AD, of which 69 is potentially effective; in module analysis, RELA, TRAF2, STAT3, and so on are the critical targets of each module; among the six core targets, RELA, MAPK8, STAT3, and TGFB1 have clinical therapeutic significance; GO function, including 3050 biological processes (BP), 257 molecular functions (MF), 184 cellular components (CC), whose functions are mainly related to antioxidation, regulation of apoptosis and cell composition; the HIF-1 signaling pathway, glutathione metabolism is the most significant result of 134 KEGG signal pathways and four metabolic pathways, respectively; most of the active components have an excellent affinity in docking with critical targets.

Conclusion

The pharmacological target prediction of CR based on molecular network pharmacology paves the way for a multi-level networking strategy. The study of CR in AD treatment shows a bright prospect for curing neurodegenerative diseases.

Berberine: A Promising Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Berberine, as a natural alkaloid compound, is characterized by a diversity of pharmacological effects. In recent years, many researches focused on the role of berberine in central nervous system diseases. Among them, the effect of berberine on neurodegenerative diseases has received widespread attention, for example Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and so on. Recent evidence suggests that berberine inhibits the production of neuroinflammation, oxidative, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. These effects can further reduce neuron damage and apoptosis. Although the current research has made some progress, its specific mechanism still needs to be further explored. This review provides an overview of berberine in neurodegenerative diseases and its related mechanisms, and also provides new ideas for future research on berberine.

Circular RNAs: Emblematic Players of Neurogenesis and Neurodegeneration

In the fascinating landscape of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) are peeping out as a new promising and appreciated class of molecules with great potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. They come from circularization of single-stranded RNA molecules covalently closed and generated through alternative mRNA splicing. Dismissed for many years, similar to aberrant splicing by-products, nowadays, their role has been regained. They are able to regulate the expression of linear mRNA transcripts at different levels acting as miRNA sponges, interacting with ribonucleoproteins or exerting a control on gene expression. On the other hand, being extremely conserved across phyla and stable, cell and tissue specific, mostly abundant than the linear RNAs, it is not surprising that they should have critical biological functions. Curiously, circRNAs are particularly expressed in brain and they build up during aging and age-related diseases. These extraordinary peculiarities make circRNAs potentially suitable as promising molecular biomarkers, especially of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to explore new evidence on circRNAs, emphasizing their role in aging and pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Parkinson's diseases with a look toward their potential usefulness in biomarker searching.

Molecular Insights into Therapeutic Potentials of Hybrid Compounds Targeting Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most complex progressive neurological disorders involving degeneration of neuronal connections in brain cells leading to cell death. AD is predominantly detected among elder people (> 65 years), mostly diagnosed with the symptoms of memory loss and cognitive dysfunctions. The multifarious pathogenesis of AD comprises the accumulation of pathogenic proteins, decreased neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. The conventional therapeutic approaches are limited to symptomatic benefits and are ineffective against disease progression. In recent years, researchers have shown immense interest in the designing and fabrication of various novel therapeutics comprised of naturally isolated hybrid molecules. Hybrid therapeutic compounds are developed from the combination of pharmacophores isolated from bioactive moieties which specifically target and block various AD-associated pathogenic pathways. The method of designing hybrid molecules has numerous advantages over conventional multitarget drug development methods. In comparison to in silico high throughput screening, hybrid molecules generate quicker results and are also less expensive than fragment-based drug development. Designing hybrid-multitargeted therapeutic compounds is thus a prospective approach in developing an effective treatment for AD. Nevertheless, several issues must be addressed, and additional researches should be conducted to develop hybrid therapeutic compounds for clinical usage while keeping other off-target adverse effects in mind. In this review, we have summarized the recent progress on synthesis of hybrid compounds, their molecular mechanism, and therapeutic potential in AD. Using synoptic tables, figures, and schemes, the review presents therapeutic promise and potential for the development of many disease-modifying hybrids into next-generation medicines for AD.

Synthesis and characterization of berberine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for the protection of urethane-induced lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of malignant tumors of the respiratory system and has the highest rates of incidence and mortality of malignant tumors. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize berberine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (BBR-COSNPs) and to evaluate their protective effects against urethane-induced lung cancer. Forty male albino mice were divided into four groups, with the first serving as a negative control and the other three groups were injected intraperitoneally with urethane (1 mg/kg b.w) each other day for 1 week then group 2 was served as a positive control, however, groups 3 and 4 were treated orally with a daily dose of BBR or BBR-COSNPs (75 mg/kg b.w) for 10 consecutive weeks. Blood and lung tissue samples are collected for laboratory assay. The BBR-COSNPs were spherical, with an average particle size of 45.56 nm and zeta potential of 39.82 1.82 mV. The in vivo data demonstrated that mice given urethane alone had a significant increase in MDA, NO, NF-κB level, HIF1-α, and COX-2-positive expression in the lung tissue and serum VEGFR2, ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine accompanied with a significant decrease in GSH, SOD, caspase 9 in the lung tissue and serum BAX. Co-treatment with BBR-COSNPs suppressed lung cancer growth and promoted apoptosis by modulating serum BAX and lung caspase 9 gene expressions. In addition, BBR-COSNPs inhibited tumor angiogenesis by reduction in levels of serum VEGFR2 and lung HIF 1 gene expression. It is possible to conclude that BBR-COSNPs can be used in oral administration formulations for lunganticancer therapy.

Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease

In recent years, the health of patients exposed to the consequences of the metabolic syndrome still requires the search for new solutions, and plant nutraceuticals are currently being intensively investigated. Berberine is a plant alkaloid possessing scientifically determined mechanisms of the prevention of the development of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, as well as cardiovascular complications and cancer. It positively contributes to elevated levels of fasting, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin, while decreasing insulin resistance. It stimulates glycolysis, improving insulin secretion, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and adipogenesis in the liver; by reducing insulin resistance, berberine also improves ovulation. The anti-obesity action of berberine has been also well-documented. Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic, lowering the LDL and testosterone levels. The alkaloid exhibits an anti-inflammatory property by stalling the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2. Berberine is neuroprotective and acts as an antidepressive. However, the outcomes in psychiatric patients are nonspecific, as it has been shown that berberine improves metabolic parameters in schizophrenic patients, acting as an adjuvant during antipsychotic treatment. Berberine acts as an anticancer option by inducing apoptosis, the cell cycle arrest, influencing MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), and influencing transcription regulation. The inhibition of carcinogenesis is also combined with lipid metabolism.

Berberine increases the expression of cytokines and proteins linked to apoptosis in human melanoma cells

BACKGROUND

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, and its incidence has increased considerably in the last decades. Melanoma presents difficult treatment with strong resistance of tumor cells, due to its extremely invasive nature with high capacity to metastases. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, is a molecule found in several medicinal plants, and has been studied in several diseases, demonstrating antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties and anti-tumorigenic effects.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In SK-MEL-28 cells, 50 μM BBR treatment for 24 h decreased cell viability by 50 percent. This concentration generated cell death both by early apoptosis and necrosis, with an increase in the DNA damage index. BBR increased (*p < 0.05) the proportion of cells in G1/G0 phase and decreased (^###p < 0.005) the percentage of cells in S phase. The alcaloid increased (****p < 0.001) ROS production compared to untreated controls with an increase in activated caspase 3 and phosphorylated p53 protein levels. In addition, BBR significantly enhanced ERK as well as both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression compared to untreated controls.

CONCLUSIONS

BBR has important antiproliferative effects and may be alone or in adjunct therapy a promising candidate for melanoma treatment, a cancer with great incidence and high lethality.

Berberine Attenuates Neonatal Sepsis in Mice By Inhibiting FOXA1 and NF-κB Signal Transduction Via the Induction of MiR-132-3p

Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a severe syndrome in newborns that is induced by infections, and the initiation and development of NS are closely associated with the function of miRs. In the current study, the effects of berberine, which is a functional component in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), against NS were assessed by focusing on the interaction of berberine with miR-132-3p-mediated signaling. An NS model was induced using cecal slurry (CS) in vivo and LPS in vitro, and berberine treatment was applies. The changes in survival rate, intestinal structure, and systemic inflammation in mice and the viability, apoptosis, and inflammatory response in intestinal cells were measured. At the molecular level, miR-132-3p levels and the activities of the FOXA1 and NF-κB pathways were analyzed. The data showed that berberine increased the survival rates of CS-induced mice. The intestinal injuries induced by CS were also attenuated by berberine, which was associated with inhibition of the production of systemic IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. At the molecular level, the expression of miR-132-3p was upregulated, suppressing the expression of FOXA1, p-IκBα, and p65 while inducing the expression of IκBα. The effects of berberine on NS-induced impairments were blocked by the injection of the miR-132-3p antagomir, which exacerbated intestinal injuries, induced systemic inflammation, and reactivated the FOXA1 and NF-κB pathways. The findings in the in vivo model were validated with in vitro assays. Collectively, the findings outlined in the current study indicated that berberine had solid protective effects against NS-induced symptoms in newborn mice, and the effects depended on the upregulation of miR-132-3p.

Targeting Mitochondria by Plant Secondary Metabolites: A Promising Strategy in Combating Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent and debilitating neurodegenerative conditions, and is currently on the rise. Several dysregulated pathways are behind the pathogenesis of PD; however, the critical targets remain unclear. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to reveal the key dysregulated pathways in PD. Prevailing reports have highlighted the importance of mitochondrial and cross-talked mediators in neurological disorders, genetic changes, and related complications of PD. Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms of PD, as well as the low efficacy and side effects of conventional neuroprotective therapies, drive the need for finding novel alternative agents. Recently, much attention has been paid to using plant secondary metabolites (e.g., flavonoids/phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and terpenoids) in the modulation of PD-associated manifestations by targeting mitochondria. In this line, plant secondary metabolites have shown promising potential for the simultaneous modulation of mitochondrial apoptosis and reactive oxygen species. This review aimed to address mitochondria and multiple dysregulated pathways in PD by plant-derived secondary metabolites.

Dietary biomolecules as promising regenerative agents for peripheral nerve injury: An emerging nutraceutical-based therapeutic approach

Peripheral nerve damage is a debilitating condition that can result in partial or complete functional loss as a result of axonal degeneration, as well as lifelong dependence. Many therapies have been imbued with a plethora of positive features while posing little risks. It is worth noting that these biomolecules work by activating several intrinsic pathways that are known to be important in peripheral nerve regeneration. Although the underlying mechanism is used for accurate and speedy functional recovery, none of them are without side effects. As a result, it is believed that effective therapy is currently lacking. The dietary biomolecules-based intervention, among other ways, is appealing, safe, and effective. Upregulation of transcription factors, neurotrophic factors, and growth factors such as NGF, GDNF, BDNF, and CTNF may occur as a result of these substances' dietary intake. Upregulation of the signaling pathways ERK, JNK, p38, and PKA has also been seen, which aids in axonal regeneration. Although several mechanistic approaches to understanding their involvement have been suggested, more work is needed to reveal the amazing properties of these biomolecules. We have discussed in this article that how different dietary biomolecules can help with functional recovery and regeneration after an injury. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Based on the information known to date, we may conclude that treatment techniques for peripheral nerve injury have downsides, such as complications, donor shortages, adverse effects, unaffordability, and a lack of precision in efficacy. These difficulties cast doubt on their efficacy and raise severe concerns about the prescription. In this situation, the need for safe and effective therapeutic techniques is unavoidable, and dietary biomolecules appear to be a safe, cost-efficient, and effective way to promote nerve regeneration following an injury. The information on these biomolecules has been summarized here. Upregulation of transcription factors, neurotrophic factors, and growth factors, such as NGF, GDNF, BDNF, and CTNF, as well as the ERK, JNK, p38, and PKA, signaling pathways, may stimulate axonal regeneration.

Neuroprotective potential of berberine in modulating Alzheimer's disease via multiple signaling pathways

Berberine is one of the most important quinoline alkaloids, which has shown numerous pharmacological activities. There are pieces of evidence that berberine serves as a promising substance for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, numerous studies on animal models have shown the neuroprotective role of berberine. AD is a complex disease having multiple pathological factors. Berberine restrains the deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Substantial studies have demonstrated that berberine may also exhibit the protective effect against the risk factors associated with AD. This review illustrates the role of berberine in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and its activity against acetylcholinesterase enzyme. It also focuses on the bioavailability and safety of berberine in AD. However, more investigations are required to explore the bioavailability and safety assessment of berberine and its new perspectives in limiting the AD-related pathogenesis and risk factors. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Current therapeutic measures only provide symptomatic relief against AD by slowing memory loss, resolving thinking problems and behavioral issues. In recent past years, many biological actions and potential therapeutic applications have been observed by berberine particularly in neurological diseases. Berberine has been investigated by various researchers for its activity against AD. This review demonstrates a variety of mechanisms by which berberine imparts its neuroprotective roles and provides the possible mechanism of action of berberine by which it prevents the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and disaggregation of amyloid beta plaques in AD. It also focuses that berberine limits the neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in AD. Pre-clinical aspects of berberine against AD are also discussed. Eventually, a prospect is formulated that berberine might be a therapeutically significant agent for treating and preventing AD.

Anti-aging properties of phytoconstituents and phyto-nanoemulsions and their application in managing aging-related diseases

Aging is spontaneous and inevitable process in all living beings. It is a complex natural phenomenon that manifests as a gradual decline of physiological functions and homeostasis. Aging inevitably leads to age-associated injuries, diseases, and eventually death. The research on aging-associated diseases aimed at delaying, preventing or even reversing the aging process are of great significance for healthy aging and also for scientific progress. Numerous plant-derived compounds have anti-aging effects, but their therapeutic potential is limited due to their short shelf-life and low bioavailability. As the novel delivery system, nanoemulsion can effectively improve this defect. Nanoemulsions enhance the delivery of drugs to the target site, maintain the plasma concentration for a longer period, and minimize adverse reaction and side effects. This review describes the importance of nanoemulsions for the delivery of phyto-derived compounds and highlights the importance of nanoemulsions in the treatment of aging-related diseases. It also covers the methods of preparation, fate and safety of nanoemulsions, which will provide valuable information for the development of new strategies in treatment of aging-related diseases.

Recent Progress on Biological Activity of Amaryllidaceae and Further Isoquinoline Alkaloids in Connection with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disease recognized as the most common form of dementia among elderly people. Due to the fact that the exact pathogenesis of AD still remains to be fully elucidated, the treatment is only symptomatic and available drugs are not able to modify AD progression. Considering the increase in life expectancy worldwide, AD rates are predicted to increase enormously, and thus the search for new AD drugs is urgently needed. Due to their complex nitrogen-containing structures, alkaloids are considered to be promising candidates for use in the treatment of AD. Since the introduction of galanthamine as an antidementia drug in 2001, Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) and further isoquinoline alkaloids (IAs) have been one of the most studied groups of alkaloids. In the last few years, several compounds of new structure types have been isolated and evaluated for their biological activity connected with AD. The present review aims to comprehensively summarize recent progress on AAs and IAs since 2010 up to June 2021 as potential drugs for the treatment of AD.

Berberine Attenuates MPP+-Induced Neuronal Injury by Regulating LINC00943/miR-142-5p/KPNA4/NF-κB Pathway in SK-N-SH Cells

Berberine plays a neuro-protective role in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in PD pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether LINC00943 was involved in the role of berberine in PD. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridine (MPP⁺) were used to construct PD mouse and cell models, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) assays. Inflammation and cell apoptosis were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to test the expression of LINC00943, microRNA (miR)-142-5p, and karyopherin subunit alpha 4 (KPNA4) mRNA. The protein levels of NF-κB pathway-related markers and KPNA4 were measured by western blot. Oxidative stress level was assessed by corresponding kits. The interaction between miR-142-5p and LINC00943 or KPNA4 was determined via dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Berberine inhibited MPP⁺-induced injury in SK-N-SH cells by promoting cell proliferation and suppressing inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative injury. LINC00943 and KPNA4 were upregulated and miR-142-5p was downregulated in PD mouse and cell models. LINC00943 (or KPNA4) overexpression or miR-142-5p inhibition abated the neuro-protective role of berberine in PD cell model. Moreover, miR-142-5p was a target of LINC00943, and KPNA4 could specially bind to miR-142-5p. Additionally, berberine inhibited NF-κB pathway by regulating LINC00943/miR-142-5p/KPNA4 axis. Berberine protected SK-N-SH cell from MPP⁺-induced neuronal damage via regulating LINC00943/miR-142-5p/KPNA4/NF-κB pathway, highlighting novel evidence for the neuro-protective role of berberine in PD.

Protective effects of berberine against MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuron injury through promoting autophagy in mice

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Coptis chinensis, has been widely studied for its efficacy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms are unknown. In this study, the effects of berberine on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice model of Parkinson's disease were investigated. We showed that treatment with berberine significantly ameliorates the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and improves motor impairment in MPTP-treated mice. Berberine also significantly decreased the level of α-synuclein and enhanced the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3-II)-associated autophagy in the SN of MPTP-treated mice. Furthermore, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated by berberine. Berberine's actions were abolished by pre-treatment with 3-methyladenine (an autophagy inhibitor) or compound c (an AMPK inhibitor) in the MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggested that the protective effects of berberine on the toxicity of MPTP could be attributed to berberine-enhanced autophagy via the AMPK dependent pathway.

A review of plant metabolites with metal interaction capacity: a green approach for industrial applications

Rapid industrial development is responsible for severe problems related to environmental pollution. Many human and industrial activities require different metals and, as a result, great amounts of metals/heavy metals are discharged into the water and soil making them dangerous for both human and ecosystems and this is being aggravated by intensive demand and utilization. In addition, compounds with metal binding capacities are needed to be used for several purposes including in activities related to the removal and/or recovery of metals from effluents and soils, as metals' corrosion inhibitors, in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles and as metal related pharmaceuticals, preferably a with minimum risks associated to the environment. Plants are able to synthesize an uncountable number of compounds with numerous functions, including compounds with metal binding capabilities. In fact, some of the plants' secondary metabolites can bind to various metals through different mechanisms, as such they are excellent sources of such compounds due to their high availability and vast diversity. In addition, the use of plant-based compounds is desirable from an environmental and economical point of view, thus being potential candidates for utilization in different industrial activities, replacing conventional physiochemical methods. This review focuses on the ability of some classes of compounds that can be found in relatively high concentrations in plants, having good metal binding capacities and thus with potential utilization in metal based industrial activities and that can be involved in the progressive development of new environmentally friendly strategies.

AMPK and its Activator Berberine in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative disorders are heterogeneous diseases associated with either acute or progressive neurodegeneration, causing the loss of neurons and axons in the central nervous system (CNS), showing high morbidity and mortality, and there are only a few effective therapies. Here, we summarized that the energy sensor adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and its agonist berberine can combat the common underlying pathological events of neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial disorder, glutamate excitotoxicity, apoptosis, autophagy disorder, and disruption of neurovascular units. The abovementioned effects of berberine may primarily depend on activating AMPK and its downstream targets, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), sirtuin1 (SIRT1), nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor-2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). It is hoped that this review will provide a strong basis for further scientific exploration and development of berberine's therapeutic potential against neurodegeneration.

An updated review on therapeutic potential and recent advances in drug delivery of Berberine: Current status and future prospect

Natural products are well known for their high potency with minimum side effects. Plant extracts are the most commonly used natural products because of their ease of availability and relatively low production cost. Berberine (BBR), a phytochemical component of some Chinese medicinal herbs (most commonlyBerberis vulgaris), is an isoquinoline alkaloid with several biological and pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, antimicrobial, antidepressant,hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic actions. Interestingly, multiple studies have shown that BBR is a potential drug candidate with a multi-spectrum therapeutic application. However, the oral delivery of BBR is challenged owing to its poor bioavailability. Therefore, its oral bioavailability needs to be enhanced before it can be used in many clinical applications. This review provides an overview of the various studies that support the broad range of pharmacological activities of BBR. Also, it includes a section to address the issues and challenges related with the drug and methods to improve the properties of BBR such as solubility, stability and bioavailability that may be explored to help patients reap the maximum benefit from this potentially useful drug.

Berberine ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cognitive impairment (chemobrain) in rats

AIMS

Cognitive decline is one of the most challenging issues for cancer survivors undergoing doxorubicin (DOX) based chemotherapy. Oxidative stress and inflammation primarily through tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are considered the key contributors to DOX-induced chemobrain. Berberine (BBR) has attracted much interest because of its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic actions. This study aimed to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of BBR in DOX-induced neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemobrain was induced by DOX i.p. injection at the dose of 2 mg/kg, once/week, for four consecutive weeks. Rats were treated with BBR (100 mg/kg, p.o.) for 5 days/week for four consecutive weeks.

KEY FINDINGS

BBR significantly attenuated behavioral defects in DOX-induced cognitive impairment. Besides, BBR reversed histopathological abnormalities. Mechanistically, it reversed DOX-induced neuroinflammation by attenuating NF-κB gene and protein expression in addition to diminishing expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and IL-1β), as well as apoptotic related factors (Bax, Bcl2 and Bax/Bcl2 ratio). Additionally, BBR activated the anti-oxidative defense via upregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). BBR improved synaptic plasticity through cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These effects were related through the modulation of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

BBR is highlighted to induce neuroprotection against DOX-induced cognitive decline through modulating brain growth factors and imposing an anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative effects.