A new study has shown that berberine, a natural compound found in plants such as "barberry" and "golden seal," inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells in the laboratory. The research also found that it reduces airway inflammation and damage to healthy lung cells exposed to chemicals from cigarette smoke. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with approximately 1.8 million deaths reported annually. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for lung cancer and other diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Principal researcher Dr. Kamal Dwa, a senior lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), stated, "Berberine has demonstrated therapeutic benefits for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to explore its potential in suppressing lung cancer and reducing inflammation." The results of berberine's impact on non-small cell lung cancer were published in the journal Pharmaceutics, which asserts that berberine exhibits strong anti-cancer activity, suppressing cancer cell growth in the laboratory. The potential mechanism of this anti-cancer activity was identified by measuring messenger RNA levels of tumor-associated genes and protein expression levels. The results revealed that berberine regulates tumor-suppressor genes, reducing the expression of proteins involved in cancer cell migration and proliferation.
This study follows recent research published in Antioxidants, led by Dr. Dwa, which demonstrated that berberine can inhibit oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and cellular aging caused by cigarette smoke extract in cultured human lung cells. Berberine has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. However, its therapeutic benefits have been limited due to poor water solubility and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as toxicity at high doses. To overcome these challenges, Dr. Dwa has developed the use of liquid crystalline nanoparticles, an advanced drug delivery system that encapsulates berberine in small, water-soluble, biodegradable polymer spheres to enhance safety and efficacy. Decades of research has shown that cigarette smoke is toxic to lung cells, causing bronchial inflammation and accelerating diseases such as cancer, COPD, and asthma. Researchers found that berberine suppresses the production of inflammatory chemicals known as reactive oxygen species, which cause harmful effects to cells. It also modulates genes responsible for inflammation and oxidative stress and reduces early cellular aging.
The research team includes Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Brian Oliver, Dr. Bikash Manandhar, and Dr. Keshav Raj Budhathoki from the University of Technology Sydney, along with international collaborators from International Medical University Malaysia and Qassim University in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Dwa is now working closely with Sydney-based companies to take this research to the next level and determine the best formulation and delivery system for these nanoparticles so that they can be clinically tested.
