Role and mechanism of berberine in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

A large number of studies have shown that berberine exerts an anti-tumor effect mainly by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing cancer cell death, inhibiting cancer cell metastasis and invasion, regulating the expression of endogenous oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, affecting the activity of cancer-related enzymes, exerting an anti-oxidative stress effect, correcting abnormal glucose metabolism, and inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B and its pathways. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown than berberine has a marked clinical effect in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with various pharmacological actions and molecular regulatory mechanisms. This article reviews the role and mechanism of berberine, an active component of traditional Chinese medicines including Coptis chinensis, in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and thus reveals the clinical effect of berberine in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In future, new dosage forms should be developed to improve its bioavailability and form effective therapeutic regimens for clinical application.