Effect of berbamine on blood and bone-marrow stem cells of cyclophosphamide-treated mice

The bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid berbamine has been used in China and Japan for the therapy of leukopaenic complications of cancer. Mice treated with non-toxic doses showed significant enhancement of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in the circulation, but a decrease in the numbers of bone marrow stem cells in a dose-dependent manner after two weeks. Similar findings were observed in cyclophosphamide-treated mice. These results indicate that berbamine acts by stimulating the maturation and release of leukocyte progenitors, and may have value in leukopaenic patients.