PMID:
J BUON. 2020 Jan-Feb;25(1):314-318. PMID: 32277648
Abstract Title:
Berberine inhibits human gastric cancer cell growth via deactivation of p38/JNK pathway, induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, caspase activation and NF-κB inhibition.
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Gastric cancer accounts for considerable mortality across the globe. In this study the anticancer effects of a natural compound Berberine were investigated in vitro. Effects of berberine on cell migration, cellular apoptosis, Nf-kB and JNK/p38 signalling pathways were also studied.METHODS: The cell viability of SNU-1 gastric cancer cells after berberine treatment was evaluated by CCK-8 assay, while the effects on cell migration were checked by wound healing assay. Effects on cellular apoptosis were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy using DAPI staining, as well as using flow cytometry with annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Effects on apoptosis-related protein expressions were checked by western blot method.RESULTS: The results showed that Berberine decreased the viability of the gastric cancer SNU-1 cells and exhibited an IC50 of 30µM. The cytoxicity of Berberine was also investigated on the normal GES-1 gastric cells and it was found that Berberine exerted very low toxic effects on these cells and exhibited an IC50 of 120 µM. Berberine also caused remarkable changes in the morphology of the SNU-1 cells. PI and DAPI stainingrevealed that Berberine prompted apoptosis of the SNU-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic cells increased from 2.2% in control to around 35% at 30 µM concentration. Berberine also suppressed the migration and invasion of the gastric cancer cells via blocking of the JNK/p38 signallingpathway.CONCLUSIONS: Berberine may act as a promising drug candidate for gastric cancer as demonstrated from the current study.