Berberine—A potent chemosensitizer and chemoprotector to conventional cancer therapies

Abstract

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are mainstay treatments for cancer patients. However, their clinical outcomes are highly limited by the resistance of malignant tumors to these therapies and the incurrence of serious damages in vital organs. This in turn necessitates the development of adjunct drugs that overcomes chemo/radioresistance in refractory cancers and protects vital organs from the cytotoxic effects of cancer therapies. In recent years, Berberine (BBR), a natural isoquinoline alkaloid has garnered more attention due to its potent chemosensitizing and chemoprotective properties. BBR effectively sensitizes refractory cancers to chemotherapy and radiotherapy by ameliorating the diverse events underlying therapy resistance. Furthermore, it protects the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys from severe damages caused by these therapies. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemo/radiosensitizing and chemo/radioprotective potential of BBR during cancer treatment. Also, we highlight the limitations that hamper the clinical application of BBR as an adjunct drug and how novel innovations have been made in recent years to circumvent these challenges.

Berberine as a Potential Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Review

“…In MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the doxorubicin-resistant (ADR) cells MCF-7 (MCF-7/ADR), BBR was recently identified as an autophagy suppressor, inhibiting the formation of autophagosomes in MCF-7/ADR cells [ 51 ]. Berberine treatment blocked the accumulation of the LC3II protein, which is associated with autophagy, leading to accumulation of the signaling adaptor p62 protein, decreasing cell proliferation, and reversing doxorubicin resistance [ 52 ].…”

9-O-Terpenyl-Substituted Berberrubine Derivatives Suppress Tumor Migration and Increase Anti-Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Activity

“…Berberine has also been reported to be a potent chemosensitizer and chemoprotector for conventional cancer therapies; it sensitizes tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy [ 26 ]. Berberine modulates various signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt, MAPKs, AMPK, STAT3, NF-κB, EGFR, ROS, and HIF-1α, to sensitize cancer cells to a broad spectrum of cancer therapies [ 26 ].…”

“…Berberine has also been reported to be a potent chemosensitizer and chemoprotector for conventional cancer therapies; it sensitizes tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiotherapy [ 26 ]. Berberine modulates various signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt, MAPKs, AMPK, STAT3, NF-κB, EGFR, ROS, and HIF-1α, to sensitize cancer cells to a broad spectrum of cancer therapies [ 26 ]. In addition, blocking of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) has become a major cancer immunotherapy in various human cancers including NSCLCs [ 27 ].…”

Chemo-Preventive Effect of 1-Piperoyl Piperidine (Piperine) Is Mediated Through Intrinsic Signaling Mechanisms In Human Prostate Cancer Cells (Pc-3) In Vitro

“…However, the standard cancer research would be to identify either pharmacologic or lifestyle interventions that could prevent the onset of prostate cancer (Chandrasekaran Kirubhanand et al .,2020). Studies have shown that some natural foods' intake decreases the risk of various dreadful diseases including diabetes, cancer, etc (Cryns V, Yuan J 1988,Desai AG et al,2008,Devarajan N et al,2021,D'Hooge,et al .,1996,Fischer U,Schulze-Osthoff K 2005 Intrinsic apoptotic pathway is mainly governed by Bcl-2 family proteins. This family contains both pro-and anti-apoptotic proteins.…”

“…Nowadays, approximately 28% of modern medicines are derived from medicinal plants (Janardhanan S et al, 2020,Jayaraman S et al,2021Khan KH,et al,2015,Kim, H. Get al, 2012,KumarS, et al 2017. There are several drugs derived from the plant origin are used in market to treat cancer which includes vinca alkaloidsvinblastine and vincristine, epipodophyllotoxins (etoposide, teniposide), taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), and camptothecin derivatives (topotecan, irinotecan) (Li.S, Wang et al, 2017).…”