Effect of berbamine on invasion and metastasis of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells and its possible mechanism

The Bis(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline) Alkaloids Cepharanthine and Berbamine Are Ligands of SK Channels

Cepharanthine, a multitarget alkaloid which has recently been shown to be effective against SARS-Cov-2, and berbamine, an alkaloid characterized as a calcium channel blocker, both share key structural elements with known small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel blockers. These structural similarities led us to evaluate their affinity for SK channels. Therefore, we performed in vitro binding on SK2 and SK3 subtypes and highlighted micromolar to sub-micromolar affinities. Respectively, the Ki values on SK2 and SK3 are 1,318 μM and 1,091 μM for cepharanthine and 0,284 μM and 0,679 μM for berbamine. These newfound affinities correspond to the concentrations at which the alkaloids are found to be active against several pathologies. As SK interactions occur at the same levels as their therapeutic effects, there is a strong incentive to further investigate whether SK channels are involved in their pharmaceutical potency.

Regulation of Cell-Signaling Pathways by Berbamine in Different Cancers

Natural product research is a cornerstone of the architectural framework of clinical medicine. Berbamine is a natural, potent, pharmacologically active biomolecule isolated from Berberis amurensis. Berbamine has been shown to modulate different oncogenic cell-signaling pathways in different cancers. In this review, we comprehensively analyze how berbamine modulates deregulated pathways (JAK/STAT, CAMKII/c-Myc) in various cancers. We systematically analyze how berbamine induces activation of the TGF/SMAD pathway for the effective inhibition of cancer progression. We also summarize different nanotechnological strategies currently being used for proficient delivery of berbamine to the target sites. Berbamine has also been reported to demonstrate potent anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects in tumor-bearing mice. The regulation of non-coding RNAs by berbamine is insufficiently studied, and future studies must converge on the identification of target non-coding RNAs. A better understanding of the regulatory role of berbamine in the modulation of non-coding RNAs and cell-signaling pathways will be advantageous in the effective translation of laboratory findings to clinically effective therapeutics.