New research shows that berberine, a natural compound found in such plants,
Lung cancer is one of the main causesdeaths from cancer worldwide: about 1.8 million deaths are recorded annually. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for lung cancer and other diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
Berberine has shown therapeutic benefitsin diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to explore its potential in suppressing lung cancer and reducing inflammation,” explains lead researcher Dr. Kamal Dua, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy and Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Research Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Evaluation of the effect of berberine on non-small celllung cancer was published in the journal Pharmaceutics. As noted in the UTS press release, “this shows that berberine exhibits potent anticancer activity by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in vitro.”
Potential mechanism of anticancer actiondetermined by measuring mRNA levels of tumor-associated genes and protein expression levels. Berberine has been shown to activate tumor suppressor genes and suppress proteins involved in cancer cell migration and proliferation.
Berberine has long been used in traditionalChinese and Ayurvedic medicine, but its therapeutic benefits are limited by its poor water solubility and poor intestinal absorption, as well as toxicity at elevated doses.
To overcome these problems, Dr. Duadeveloped the use of liquid crystal nanoparticles, an advanced drug delivery system that encapsulates berberine in tiny soluble and biodegradable polymer beads to improve safety and efficacy.
Decades of research have shown that cigarettesmoke is toxic to lung cells, causing inflammation of the airways and accelerating the development of diseases such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Researchers found that berberine suppressed the production of inflammatory chemicals called reactive oxygen species, which have damaging effects on cells. It also modulated genes involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and reduced premature cell aging.
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