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Cancer Pathways Targeted by Berberine: Role of microRNAs
Mansoor Ali1, Deepali Mishra1, Rana Pratap Singh1,2,3
1Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
|February 2, 2024
Summary
Berberine, a natural compound, combats cancer by regulating microRNAs (miRNAs). This review explores how berberine influences cancer cell behavior and progression through miRNA modulation, offering new therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cancer is a complex disease driven by genetic and epigenetic changes, often rendering conventional therapies ineffective.
- MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is a key factor in cancer development, progression, and metastasis.
- miRNAs hold potential as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets in oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of berberine in cancer treatment.
- To elucidate how berberine regulates microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer cells.
- To explore the impact of berberine-mediated miRNA changes on cancer-related transcripts and proteins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on berberine, miRNAs, and cancer.
- Analysis of research detailing berberine's effects on cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis.
- Examination of studies investigating berberine's influence on oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs.
Main Results:
- Berberine exhibits anticancer activities, including inhibition of proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis.
- Berberine modulates the expression of numerous oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs.
- Berberine-mediated miRNA regulation alters transcript and protein profiles, impacting cancer progression.
Conclusions:
- Berberine shows significant potential as an anticancer agent through its ability to regulate miRNAs.
- Understanding berberine-induced miRNA alterations provides insights into molecular pathways crucial for combating cancer.
- Berberine's miRNA-targeting mechanisms offer a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
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