Berberine and cinnamaldehyde together prevent lung carcinogenesis

Cinnamaldehyde: Pharmacokinetics, anticancer properties and therapeutic potential (Review)

Cancer incidence is increasing globally, presenting a growing public health challenge. While anticancer drugs are crucial in treatment, their limitations, including poor targeting ability and high toxicity, hinder effectiveness and patient safety, requiring relentless scientific research and technological advancements to develop safer and more effective therapeutics. Cinnamaldehyde (CA), an active compound derived from the natural plant cinnamon, has garnered attention in pharmacological research due to its diverse therapeutic applications. CA has potential in treating a wide array of conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, inflammatory disorders and various forms of cancer. The present review comprehensively summarizes the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profiles of CA, and delves into the latest advancements in elucidating its potential mechanisms and targets across various cancer types. CA and its derivatives have antitumor effects, which encompass inhibiting cell proliferation, arresting the cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, limiting cell migration and invasion, and suppressing angiogenesis. Additionally, the present review explores targeted formulations of CA, laying a scientific foundation for further exploration of its implications in cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

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.

Cinnamaldehyde attenuates TNF-α induced skeletal muscle loss in C2C12 myotubes via regulation of protein synthesis, proteolysis, oxidative stress and inflammation

Inflammation is the primary driver of skeletal muscle wasting, with oxidative stress serving as both a major consequence and a contributor to its deleterious effects. In this regard, regulation of both can efficiently prevent atrophy and thus will increase the rate of survival [1]. With this idea, we hypothesize that preincubation of Cinnamaldehyde (CNA), a known compound with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, may be able to prevent skeletal muscle loss. To examine the same, C2C12 post-differentiated myotubes were treated with 25 ng/ml Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the presence or absence of 50 μM CNA. The data showed that TNF-α mediated myotube thinning and a lower fusion index were prevented by CNA supplementation 4 h before TNF-α treatment. Moreover, a lower level of ROS and thus maintained antioxidant defense system further underlines the antioxidative function of CNA in atrophic conditions. CNA preincubation also inhibited an increase in the level of inflammatory cytokines and thus led to a lower level of inflammation even in the presence of TNF-α. With decreased oxidative stress and inflammation by CNA, it was able to maintain the intracellular level of injury markers (CK, LDH) and SDH activity of mitochondria. In addition, CNA modulates all five proteolytic systems [cathepsin-L, UPS (atrogin-1), calpain, LC3, beclin] simultaneously with an upregulation of Akt/mTOR pathway, in turn, preserves the muscle-specific proteins (MHCf) from degradation by TNF-α. Altogether, our study exhibits attenuation of muscle loss and provides insight into the possible mechanism of action of CNA in curbing TNF-α induced muscle loss, specifically its effect on proteolysis and protein synthesis.

Novel berberine derivatives as p300 histone acetyltransferase inhibitors in combination treatment for breast cancer

Adenoviral E1A binding protein p300 (EP300 or p300) and its similar paralog, cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CBP), are important histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and transcriptional co-activators in epigenetics, participating in numerous cellular pathways including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The overexpression or dysregulation of p300/CBP is closely related to oncology-relevant disease. The inhibition of p300 HAT has been found to be a potential drug target. Berberine has been reported to show anticancer activity and synergistic effect in combination with some of the clinical anticancer drugs via modulation of various pathways. Here, the present study sought to discover more chemotypes of berberine derivatives as p300 HAT inhibitors and to examine the combination of these novel analogues with doxorubicin for the treatment of breast cancer. A series of novel berberine derivatives with modifications of A/B/D rings of berberine have been designed, synthesized and screened. Compound 7b was found to exhibit inhibitory potency against p300 HAT with IC50 values of 1.51 μM. Western blotting proved that 7b decreased H3K27Ac and interfered with the expression of oncology-relevant protein in MCF-7 cells. Further bioactive evaluation showed that combination of compound 7b with doxorubicin could significantly inhibit tumor growth and invasion in vitro and in vivo.

Development of Gelled-Oil Nanoparticles for the Encapsulation and Release of Berberine

In this study, a new drug carrier based on gelled-oil nanoparticles (GNPs) was designed and synthesized for the encapsulation and release of the model hydrophobic drug, berberine chloride (BCl). Two compositions with different oil phases were examined, sesame oil (SO) and cinnamaldehyde (Cin), which were emulsified with water, stabilized with Tween 80 (Tw80), and gelled using an N-alkylated primary oxalamide low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG) to give stable dispersions of GNPs between 100 and 200 nm in size. The GNP formulation with Cin was significantly favored over SO due to (1) lower gel melting temperatures, (2) higher gel mechanical strength, and (3) significantly higher solubility, encapsulation efficiency, and loading of BCl. Also, the solubility and loading of BCl in Cin were significantly increased (at least 7-fold) with the addition of cinnamic acid. In vitro release studies showed that the release of BCl from the GNPs was independent of gelator concentration and lower than that for BCl solution and the corresponding nanoemulsion (no LWMG). Also, cell internalization studies suggested that the N-alkylated primary oxalamide LMWG did not interfere with the internalization efficiency of BCl into mouse mast cells. Altogether, this work demonstrates the potential use of these new GNP formulations for biomedical studies involving the encapsulation of drugs and nutraceuticals and their controlled release.

Antitumor Activity of Berberine by Activating Autophagy and Apoptosis in CAL-62 and BHT-101 Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Lines

Introduction

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most lethal thyroid carcinoma. Doxorubicin (DOX) is the only drug approved for anaplastic thyroid cancer treatment, but its clinical use is restricted due to irreversible tissue toxicity. Berberine (BER), an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Coptidis Rhizoma, has been proposed to have antitumor activity in many cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms by which BER regulates apoptosis and autophagy in ATC remain unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of BER in human ATC cell lines CAL-62 and BHT-101 as well as the underlying mechanisms. In addition, we assessed the antitumor effects of a combination of BER and DOX in ATC cells.

Methods

The cell viability of CAL-62 and BTH-101 with treatment of BER for different hours was measured by CCK-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was assessed by clone formation assay and flow cytometric analysis. The protein levels of apoptosis protein, autophagy-related proteins and PI3K/AKT/mTORpathway were determined Using Western blot. Autophagy in cells was observed with GFP-LC3 plasmid using confocal fluorescent microscopy. Flow cytometry was used to detect intracellular ROS.

Results

The present results showed that BER significantly inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in ATC cells. BER treatment also significantly upregulated the expression of LC3B-II and increased the number of GFP-LC3 puncta in ATC cells. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) suppressed BER-induced autophagic cell death. Moreover, BER induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanistically, we demonstrated that BER regulated the autophagy and apoptosis of human ATC cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Furthermore, BER and DOX cooperated to promote apoptosis and autophagy in ATC cells.

Conclusion

Taken together, the present findings indicated that BER induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death by activating ROS and regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Pharmacotherapeutic values of berberine: A Chinese herbal medicine for the human cancer management

Berberine (BBR), a traditional Chinese phytomedicine extracted from various parts of Berberis plants, is an isoquinoline alkaloid used for centuries to treat diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and so forth. It has recently received immense attention worldwide to treat cancer due to its potent pro-apoptotic, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory properties. BBR efficiently induces tumor apoptosis, replicative quiescence and abrogates cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor neovascularization, and metastasis by modulating diverse molecular and cell signaling pathways. Furthermore, BBR could also reverse drug resistance, make tumor cells sensitive to current cancer treatment and significantly minimize the harmful side effects of cytotoxic therapies. This review comprehensively analyzed the pharmacological effects of BBR against the development, growth, progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance in wide varieties of cancer. Also, it critically discusses the significant limitations behind the development of BBR into pharmaceuticals to treat cancer and the future research directions to overcome these limitations.

Multi-Target Potential of Berberine as an Antineoplastic and Antimetastatic Agent: A Special Focus on Lung Cancer Treatment

Despite therapeutic advancements, lung cancer remains the principal cause of cancer mortality in a global scenario. The increased incidence of tumor reoccurrence and progression and the highly metastatic nature of lung cancer are of great concern and hence require the investigation of novel therapies and/or medications. Naturally occurring compounds from plants serve as important resources for novel drugs for cancer therapy. Amongst these phytochemicals, Berberine, an alkaloid, has been extensively explored as a potential natural anticancer therapeutic agent. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of Berberine in inhibiting cancer growth and progression mediated via several different mechanisms, which include cell cycle arrest, inducing cell death by apoptosis and autophagy, inhibiting cell proliferation and invasion, as well as regulating the expression of microRNA, telomerase activity, and the tumor microenvironment, which usually varies for different cancer types. In this review, we aim to provide a better understanding of molecular insights of Berberine and its various derivative-induced antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects against lung cancer. In conclusion, the Berberine imparts its anticancer efficacy against lung cancers via modulation of several signaling pathways involved in cancer cell viability and proliferation, as well as migration, invasion, and metastasis.

The Therapeutic Roles of Cinnamaldehyde against Cardiovascular Diseases

Evidence from epidemiological studies has demonstrated that the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increase year by year, which pose a great threat on social economy and human health worldwide. Due to limited therapeutic benefits and associated adverse effects of current medications, there is an urgent need to uncover novel agents with favorable safety and efficacy. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a bioactive phytochemical isolated from the stem bark of Chinese herbal medicine Cinnamon and has been suggested to possess curative roles against the development of CVDs. This integrated review intends to summarize the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic features of CA and discuss the recent advances in underlying mechanisms and potential targets responsible for anti-CVD properties of CA. The CA-related cardiovascular protective mechanisms could be attributed to the inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, improvement of lipid and glucose metabolism, regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, suppression of cardiac fibrosis, and platelet aggregation and promotion of vasodilation and angiogenesis. Furthermore, CA is likely to inhibit CVD progression via affecting other possible processes including autophagy and ER stress regulation, gut microbiota and immune homeostasis, ion metabolism, ncRNA expression, and TRPA1 activation. Collectively, experiments reported previously highlight the therapeutic effects of CA and clinical trials are advocated to offer scientific basis for the compound future applied in clinical practice for CVD prophylaxis and treatment.

Berberine: An Important Emphasis on Its Anticancer Effects through Modulation of Various Cell Signaling Pathways

Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of disease and a major cause of death worldwide. Despite advancement in various treatment modules, there has been little improvement in survival rates and side effects associated with this disease. Medicinal plants or their bioactive compounds have been extensively studied for their anticancer potential. Novel drugs based on natural products are urgently needed to manage cancer through attenuation of different cell signaling pathways. In this regard, berberine is a bioactive alkaloid that is found in variety of plants, and an inverse association has been revealed between its consumption and cancer. Berberine exhibits an anticancer role through scavenging free radicals, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of angiogenesis, inflammation, PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt/β-catenin, and the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. In addition, synergistic effects of berberine with anticancer drugs or natural compounds have been proven in several cancers. This review outlines the anticancer effects and mechanisms of action of berberine in different cancers through modulation of various cell signaling pathways. Moreover, the recent developments in the drug delivery systems and synergistic effect of berberine are explained.

Cinnamaldehyde-Based Self-Nanoemulsion (CA-SNEDDS) Accelerates Wound Healing and Exerts Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Rats’ Skin Burn Model

Cinnamaldehyde, the main phytoconstituent of the cinnamon oil, has been reported for its potential wound healing activity, associated to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we are reporting on the cinnamaldehyde-based self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (CA-SNEDDS), which was prepared and evaluated for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing potential using the rat third-degree skin injury model. The parameters, i.e., skin healing, proinflammatory, and oxidative/antioxidant markers, were evaluated after 3 weeks of treatment regimens with CA-SNEDDS. Twenty rats were divided randomly into negative control (untreated), SNEDDS control, silver sulfadiazine cream positive control (SS), and CA-SNEDDS groups. An aluminum cylinder (120 °C, 10-s duration) was used to induce 3rd-degree skin burns (1-inch square diameter each) on the rat’s dorsum. At the end of the experiment, skin biopsies were collected for biochemical analysis. The significantly reduced wound size in CA-SNEDDS compared to the negative group was observed. CA-SNEDDS-treated and SS-treated groups demonstrated significantly increased antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and a significant reduction in the inflammatory marker, i.e., NAP-3, compared to the negative group. Compared to SNEDDS, CA-SNEDDS exhibited a substantial antimicrobial activity against all the tested organisms at the given dosage of 20 µL/disc. Among all the tested microorganisms, MRSA and S. typhimurium were the most susceptible bacteria, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 17.0 ± 0.3 mm and 19.0 ± 0.9 mm, respectively. CA-SNEDDS also exhibited strong antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger, with IZD of 35.0 ± 0.5 mm and 34.0 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. MIC and MBC of CA-SNEDDS for the tested bacteria ranged from 3.125 to 6.25 µL/mL and 6.25 to 12.5 µL/mL, respectively, while the MIC and MBC for C. albicans and A. niger were 1.56 µL/mL and 3.125 µL/mL, respectively. The MBIC and MBEC of CA-SNEDDS were also very significant for the tested bacteria and ranged from 6.25 to 12.5 µL/mL and 12.5 to 25.0 µL/mL, respectively, while the MBIC and MBEC for C. albicans and A. niger were 3.125 µL/mL and 6.25 µL/mL, respectively. Thus, the results indicated that CA-SNEDDS exhibited significant wound healing properties, which appeared to be attributed to the formulation’s antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Berberine regulates PADI4-related macrophage function to prevent lung cancer

Coptis chinensis Franch (CCF) has been widely used by Chinese old herbalist doctor to treat internal and external diseases including malignant sore and cancer. Berberine (BBR) is a major bioactive compound in CCF and may exert anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects like CCF. However, the prevention effect of berberine against lung cancer and its relevance of anti-inflammation property to cancer-preventing effect are still obscure. Protein arginine deaminase 4 (PAD4) played an important role in macrophage related inflammatory response, the purpose of this study was to identify whether berberine can prevent lung cancer and explore its effect on PADI4-related macrophage function. In vitro, PADI4 overexpression affects cell-activated state in macrophages. PADI4 overexpressed macrophages promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of A549 lung cancer cells and inhibit cell apoptosis. Berberine at the experiment dose had no effect on cell viability of U937-derived macrophages, but could significantly inhibit PADI4 expression to reverse the macrophage-activated state and the lung cancer -promoting effect of PADI4-overexpressed macrophages. Unlike GSK484, berberine had a little effect on the PADI4 citrullination activity at the experimental doses, its IC50 for PADI4 inhibition is 45.07 μM (44.03-46.12 μM). In the mouse lung carcinogenetic model, PADI4 expression was directly related to the number of lung nodules. Berberine had the similar role to GSK484 in reducing the number of lung tumor nodules with the improved lung pathology in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited PADI4 expression. Further, we found that PADI4 overexpression could inhibit IRF5 expression, up-regulate CD163 and CD206 and down-regulate CD86 in macrophages, which could be reversed by berberine. Our results suggest that berberine may regulate PADI4-related macrophage function to prevent lung cancer.

Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Activity and Anti-Migratory Effect of Berberine–Phytantriol Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticle Formulation on Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer In Vitro

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, which is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that is commercially available for use as a supplement for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, the therapeutic benefits of berberine are limited by its extremely low bioavailability and toxicity at higher doses. Increasing evidence suggests that the incorporation of drug compounds in liquid crystal nanoparticles provides a new platform for the safe, effective, stable, and controlled delivery of the drug molecules. This study aimed to formulate an optimized formulation of berberine–phytantriol-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (BP-LCNs) and to investigate the in vitro anti-cancer activity in a human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line. The BP-LCN formulation possessing optimal characteristics that was used in this study had a favorable particle size and entrapment efficiency rate (75.31%) and a superior drug release profile. The potential mechanism of action of the formulation was determined by measuring the mRNA levels of the tumor-associated genes PTEN, P53, and KRT18 and the protein expression levels with a human oncology protein array. BP-LCNs decreased the proliferation, migration, and colony-forming activity of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner by upregulating the mRNA expression of PTEN and P53 and downregulating the mRNA expression of KRT18. Similarly, BP-LCNs also decreased the expression of proteins related to cancer cell proliferation and migration. This study highlights the utility of phytantriol-based LCNs in incorporating drug molecules with low GI absorption and bioavailability to increase their pharmacological effectiveness and potency in NSCLC.

Combinatorial Effects of the Natural Products Arctigenin, Chlorogenic Acid, and Cinnamaldehyde Commit Oxidation Assassination on Breast Cancer Cells

Major obstacles in current breast cancer treatment efficacy include the ability of breast cancer cells to develop resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and the off-target cytotoxicity of these drugs on normal cells, leading to debilitating side effects. One major difference between cancer and normal cells is their metabolism, as cancer cells acquire glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism alterations throughout tumorigenesis. In this study, we sought to exploit this metabolic difference by investigating alternative breast cancer treatment options based on the application of phytochemicals. Herein, we investigated three phytochemicals, namely cinnamaldehyde (CA), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and arctigenin (Arc), regarding their anti-breast-cancer properties. These phytochemicals were administered alone or in combination to MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and HCC1419 breast cancer or normal MCF-10A and MCF-12F breast cells. Overall, our results indicated that the combination treatments showed stronger inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells versus single treatments. However, only treatments with CA (35 μM), CGA (250 μg/mL), and the combination of CA + CGA (35 μM + 250 μg/mL) showed no significant cytotoxic effects on normal mammary epithelial cells, suggesting that Arc was the driver of normal cell cytotoxicity in all other treatments. CA + CGA and, to a lesser extent, CGA alone effectively induced breast cancer cell death accompanied by decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial superoxide, reduced mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production, and led to significant changes in cellular and mitochondrial morphology. Altogether, the combination of CA + CGA was determined as the best anti-breast-cancer treatment strategy due to its strong anti-breast-cancer effects without strong adverse effects on normal mammary epithelial cells. This study provides evidence that targeting the mitochondria may be an effective anticancer treatment, and that using phytochemicals or combinations thereof offers new approaches in treating breast cancer that significantly reduce off-target effects on normal cells.

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.

Apoptosis Induction, a Sharp Edge of Berberine to Exert Anti-Cancer Effects, Focus on Breast, Lung, and Liver Cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death and one of the greatest barriers to increased life expectancy worldwide. Currently, chemotherapy with synthetic drugs remains one of the predominant ways for cancer treatment, which may lead to drug resistance and normal organ damage. Increasing researches have suggested that apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is a promising way for cancer therapy. Furthermore, natural products are important sources for finding new drugs with high availability, low cost and low toxicity. As a well-known isoquinoline alkaloid, accumulating evidence has revealed that berberine (BBR) exerts potential pro-apoptotic effects on multiple cancers, including breast, lung, liver, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. The related potential signal pathways are AMP-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and protein kinase B pathways. In this review, we provide a timely and comprehensive summary of the detailed molecular mechanisms of BBR in treating three types of cancer (breast, lung and liver cancer) by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we also discuss the existing challenges and strategies to improve BBR’s bioavailability. Hopefully, this review provides valuable information for the comprehension of BBR in treating three types of cancer and highlight the pro-apoptotic effects of BBR, which would be beneficial for the further development of this natural compound as an effective clinical drug for treating cancers.

Plant isoquinoline alkaloids: Advances in the chemistry and biology of berberine

Alkaloids are one of the most important classes of plant bioactives. Among these isoquinoline alkaloids possess varied structures and exhibit numerous biological activities. Basically these are biosynthetically produced via phenylpropanoid pathway. However, occasionally some mixed pathways may also occur to provide structural divergence. Among the various biological activities anticancer, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial are important. A few notable bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids are antidiabetic berberine, anti-tussive codeine, analgesic morphine, and muscle relaxant papaverine etc. Berberine is one of the most discussed bioactives from this class possessing broad-spectrum pharmacological activities. Present review aims at recent updates of isoquinoline alkaloids with major emphasis on berberine, its detailed chemistry, important biological activities, structure activity relationship and implementation in future research.

Dual down-regulation of EGFR and ErbB2 by berberine contributes to suppression of migration and invasion of human ovarian cancer cells

The overexpression of EGFR and/or ErbB2 occurs frequently in ovarian cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to examine the anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of berberine on human ovarian cancer cells with different levels of EGFR and/or ErbB2. We found that berberine reduced the motility and invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells. Berberine depleted both EGFR and ErbB2 in ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, berberine suppressed the activation of the EGFR and ErbB2 downstream targets cyclin D1, MMPs, and VEGF by down-regulating the EGFR-ErbB2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The berberine-mediated inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity could be rescued by co-treatment with EGF. Finally, we demonstrated that berberine induced ErbB2 depletion through ubiquitin-mediated proteasome degradation. In conclusion, the suppressive effects of berberine on the ovarian cancer cells that differ in the expression of EGFR and ErbB2 may be mediated by the dual depletion of EGFR and/or ErbB2.

Berberine inhibited metastasis through miR-145/MMP16 axis in vitro

Ovarian cancer is the first leading cause of death in gynecological cancers. The continuous survival and metastasis of cancer cells are the main causes of death and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. Berberine is an effective component extracted from the rhizomes of coptis chinensis and phellodendron chinensis. In our study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of proliferation, migration and invasion by berberine in ovarian cancer cells. CCK8 assay was used for detection of proliferative capacity of SKOV3 and 3AO cells. Wound healing assay was used to estimate cell migration and transwell assay was used to assess cell invasion. The mRNA expression of miR-145 and MMP16 were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein level of MMP16 was detected by western blot analysis. In addition, luciferase reporter assays were used to demonstrate MMP16 was a target of miR-145. The results demonstrated berberine inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion, promoted miR-145 expression, and decreased MMP16 expression in SKOV3 and 3AO cells. MMP16 was a target of miR-145. Moreover, downregulation of MMP16 contributed to the inhibition of proliferation, migration and invasion by berberine. Together, our results revealed that berberine inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion through miR-145/MMP16 in SKOV3 and 3AO cells, highlighting the potentiality of berberine to be used as a therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.

Aquaporins in lung health and disease: Emerging roles, regulation, and clinical implications

Aquaporins (AQPs) aka water channels are a family of conserved transmembrane proteins (~30 kDa monomers) expressed in various organ systems. Of the 13 AQPs (AQP0 through AQP12) in the human body, four (AQPs 1, 3, 4, and 5) are expressed in the respiratory system. These channels are conventionally known for mediating transcellular fluid movements. Certain AQPs (aquaglyceroporins) have the capability to transport glycerol and potentially other solutes. There is an emerging body of literature unveiling the non-conventional roles of AQPs such as in cell proliferation and migration, gas permeation, signal potentiation, etc. Initial gene knock-out studies established a physiological role for lung AQPs, particularly AQP5, in maintaining homeostasis, by mediating fluid secretion from submucosal glands onto the airway surface liquid (ASL) lining. Subsequent studies have highlighted the functional significance of AQPs, particularly AQP1 and AQP5 in lung pathophysiology and diseases, including but not limited to chronic and acute lung injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other inflammatory lung conditions, and lung cancer. AQP1 has been suggested as a potential prognostic marker for malignant mesothelioma. Recent efforts are directed toward exploiting AQPs as targets for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and/or treatment of various lung conditions. Emerging information on regulatory pathways and directed mechanistic research are posited to unravel novel strategies for these clinical implications. Future considerations should focus on development of AQP inhibitors, blockers, and modulators for therapeutic needs, and better understanding the role of lung-specific AQPs in inter-individual susceptibility to chronic lung diseases such as COPD and cancer.

Berberine represses human gastric cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing cytostatic autophagy via inhibition of MAPK/mTOR/p70S6K and Akt signaling pathways

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid from Coptidis Rhizoma, has been characterized as a potential anticancer drug due to its good anti-tumor effects. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in anti-gastric cancer remain poorly understood. Herein, the role of berberine in gastric cancer suppression by inducing cytostatic autophagy in vitro and in vivo was first investigated. Results showed that berberine induced an obvious growth inhibitory effect on gastric cancer BGC-823 cells without toxicity to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Treatment with berberine triggered cell autophagy, as demonstrated by the punctuate distribution of monodansylcadaverine staining and GFP-LC3, as well as the LC3-II, Beclin-1 and p-ULK1 promotion, and p62 degradation. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA, CQ, Baf-A1 and BECN1 siRNA obviously increased cell viability of berberine-exposed gastric cancer cells, which confirmed the anti-cancer role of autophagy induced by berberine. Mechanistic studies showed that berberine inhibited mTOR, Akt and MAPK (ERK, JNK and p38) pathways thereby inducing autophagy. Inhibition of above pathways increases berberine induced autophagy and cytotoxicity. Interestingly, mTOR/p70S6K was inhibited by the MAPK but not Akt. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy reversed berberine down-regulated mTOR, Akt and MAPK. In xenografts, the berberine induced autophagy leads to suppression of tumor proliferation with no side-effect, and western blotting displayed an apparent attenuation of p-mTOR, p-p70S6K, p-Akt, p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 in tumors from berberine treated mice. Briefly, these results indicated that berberine repressed human gastric cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing cytostatic autophagy via inhibition of MAPK/mTOR/p70S6K and Akt, and provided a molecular basis for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Cinnamaldehyde Enhances Antimelanoma Activity through Covalently Binding ENO1 and Exhibits a Promoting Effect with Dacarbazine

At present, melanoma is a common malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate of all types of skin cancer. Although the first option for treating melanoma is with chemicals, the effects are unsatisfactory and include poor medication response and high resistance. Therefore, developing new medicines or a novel combination approach would be a significant breakthrough. Here, we present cinnamaldehyde (CA) as a potential candidate, which exerted an antitumor effect in melanoma cell lines. Chemical biology methods of target fishing, molecular imaging, and live cell tracing by an alkynyl-CA probe revealed that the α-enolase (ENO1) protein was the target of CA. The covalent binding of CA with ENO1 changed the stability of the ENO1 protein and affected the glycolytic activity. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that dacarbazine (DTIC) showed a high promoting effect with CA for antimelanoma both in vivo and in vitro. The combination improved the DTIC cell cycle arrest in the S phase and markedly impacted melanoma growth. As a covalent inhibitor of ENO1, CA combined with DTIC may be beneficial in patients with drug resistance in antimelanoma therapy.

Treatment with cinnamaldehyde reduces the visceral adiposity and regulates lipid metabolism, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver of a rat model of early obesity

Nutrition at early stages of life contributes to the alarming incidence of childhood obesity, insulin resistance and hepatoesteatosis. Cinnamaldehyde, major component of cinnamon, increases insulin sensitivity and modulates adiposity and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of cinnamaldehyde treatment during adolescence in a rat model of early obesity. Litter size reduction was used to induce overfeeding and early obesity. At postnatal day 30 (adolescence), the male Wistar rats received cinnamaldehyde by gavage (40 mg/kg of body weight/day) for 29 days and were studied at the end of treatment at 60 days old or 4 months thereafter (180 days old). At 60 days of age, the treatment with cinnamaldehyde promoted reduced visceral adiposity, serum triacylglycerol, and attenuation of energy efficiency and insulin resistance. In the liver, it reduced lipid synthesis, stimulated autophagy and reduced ER stress. At 180 days of age, animals treated with cinnamaldehyde during the adolescence exhibited normalization of visceral adiposity and energy efficiency, and attenuation of hyperphagia, serum hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic triacylglycerol content, with molecular markers indicative of reduced hepatic synthesis. However, the beneficial effect observed at 60 days of age on glucose homeostasis, autophagy and ER stress was lost. Therefore, the cinnamaldehyde supplementation during the adolescence has short- and long-term metabolic beneficial effects, highlighting its potential as an adjuvant in the treatment of early obesity.

Berberine as a potential autophagy modulator

Today, pharmacognosy is considered a valuable science in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Among herbals, Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in the Berberis species. Surprisingly, it shows antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiarrheal, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory potential. Furthermore, it diminishes drug resistance in cancer therapy and enhances tumor suppression in part through autophagy and cell cycle arrest mechanisms. In the present review, we discuss the effect of berberine on diverse cellular pathways and describe how berberine acts as an autophagy modulator to adjust physiologic and pathologic conditions and diminishes drug resistance in cancer therapy.

Regulation of Cell Signaling Pathways by Berberine in Different Cancers: Searching for Missing Pieces of an Incomplete Jig-Saw Puzzle for an Effective Cancer Therapy

There has been a renewed interest in the identification of natural products having premium pharmacological properties and minimum off-target effects. In accordance with this approach, natural product research has experienced an exponential growth in the past two decades and has yielded a stream of preclinical and clinical insights which have deeply improved our knowledge related to the multifaceted nature of cancer and strategies to therapeutically target deregulated signaling pathways in different cancers. In this review, we have set the spotlight on the scientifically proven ability of berberine to effectively target a myriad of deregulated pathways.

Momordicoside G Regulates Macrophage Phenotypes to Stimulate Efficient Repair of Lung Injury and Prevent Urethane-Induced Lung Carcinoma Lesions

Momordicoside G is a bioactive component from Momordica charantia, this study explores the contributions of macrophages to the effects of momordicoside G on lung injury and carcinoma lesion. In vitro, when administered at the dose that has no effect on cell viability in M2-like macrophages, momordicoside G decreased ROS and promoted autophagy and thus induced apoptosis in M1-like macrophages with the morphological changes. In the urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model, prior to lung carcinoma lesions, urethane induced obvious lung injury accompanied by the increased macrophage infiltration. The lung carcinoma lesions were positively correlated with lung tissue injury and macrophage infiltration in alveolar cavities in the control group, these macrophages showed mainly a M1-like (iNOS⁺/CD68⁺) phenotype. ELISA showed that the levels of IL-6 and IL-12 were increased and the levels of IL-10 and TGF-β1 were reduced in the control group. After momordicoside G treatment, lung tissue injury and carcinoma lesions were ameliorated with the decreased M1-like macrophages and the increased M2-like (arginase⁺/CD68⁺) macrophages, whereas macrophage depletion by liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC) decreased significantly lung tissue injury and carcinoma lesions and also attenuated the protective efficacy of momordicoside G. The M2 macrophage dependent efficacy of momordicoside G was confirmed in a LPS-induced lung injury model in which epithelial closure was promoted by the transfer of M2-like macrophages and delayed by the transfer of M1-like macrophages. To acquire further insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms by which momordicoside G regulates M1 macrophages, we conduct a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of momordicoside G relevant targets and pathways involved in M1 macrophage phenotype. This study suggests a function of momordicoside G, whereby it selectively suppresses M1 macrophages to stimulate M2-associated lung injury repair and prevent inflammation-associated lung carcinoma lesions.

Emodin regulates neutrophil phenotypes to prevent hypercoagulation and lung carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Hypercoagulation and neutrophilia are described in several cancers, however, whether they are involved in lung carcinogenesis is currently unknown. Emodin is the main bioactive component from Rheum palmatum and has many medicinal values, such as anti-inflammation and anticancer. This study is to investigate the contributions of neutrophils to the effects of emodin on hypercoagulation and carcinogenesis.

METHODS

The effects of emodin on neutrophil phenotypes were assessed by cell proliferation, morphological changes, phagocytosis and autophagy in vitro. The anti-coagulation and cancer-preventing actions of emodin were evaluated in the urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model. The expressions of Cit-H3 and PAD4 in lung sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry, CD66b⁺ neutrophils were distinguished by immunofluorescence, and cytokines and ROS were examined with ELISA. The neutrophils-regulating and hypercoagulation-improving efficacies of emodin were confirmed in a Lewis lung cancer allograft model. The related targets and pathways of emodin were predicted by network pharmacology.

RESULTS

In vitro, emodin at the dose of 20 µM had no effect on cell viability in HL-60N1 but increased ROS and decreased autophagy and thus induced apoptosis in HL-60N2 with the morphological changes. In the urethane-induced lung carcinogenic model, before lung carcinogenesis, urethane induced obvious hypercoagulation which was positively correlated with lung N2 neutrophils. There were the aggravated hypercoagulation and lung N2 neutrophils after lung carcinoma lesions. Emodin treatment resulted in the ameliorated hypercoagulation and lung carcinogenesis accompanied by the decreased N2 neutrophils (CD66b⁺) in the alveolar cavity. ELISA showed that there were more IFN-γ, IL-12 and ROS and less IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in the alveolar cavity in the emodin group than those in the control group. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that emodin treatment decreased Cit-H3 and PAD4 in lung sections. In the Lewis lung cancer allograft model, emodin inhibits tumor growth accompanied by the attenuated coagulation and intratumor N2 neutrophils. Network pharmacology indicated the multi-target roles of emodin in N2 neutrophil activation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a novel function of emodin, whereby it selectively suppresses N2 neutrophils to prevent hypercoagulation and lung carcinogenesis.

A Natural Isoquinoline Alkaloid With Antitumor Activity: Studies of the Biological Activities of Berberine

Coptis, a traditional medicinal plant, has been used widely in the field of traditional Chinese medicine for many years. More recently, the chemical composition and bioactivity of Coptis have been studied worldwide. Berberine is a main component of Rhizoma Coptidis. Modern medicine has confirmed that berberine has pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, and blood pressure-lowering effects. Importantly, the active ingredient of berberine has clear inhibitory effects on various cancers, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, and cervical cancer. Cancer, ranked as one of the world’s five major incurable diseases by WHO, is a serious threat to the quality of human life. Here, we try to outline how berberine exerts antitumor effects through the regulation of different molecular pathways. In addition, the berberine-mediated regulation of epigenetic mechanisms that may be associated with the prevention of malignant tumors is described. Thus, this review provides a theoretical basis for the biological functions of berberine and its further use in the clinical treatment of cancer.