Berbamine Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects via Inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways.
BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Berbamine (BER), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Berberis amurensis (Xiao Bo An), and the underlying mechanisms.


METHODS
Macrophages and neutrophils were treated with BER in vitro and stimulated with LPS and fMLP. The effects of BER on the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages were evaluated with quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. The effects of BER on the activation and superoxide release of neutrophils were determined with flow cytometry and WST-1 reduction test. The inhibitory effects of BER on the activation of signaling pathways related to inflammatory response in macrophages were evaluated by western blot analysis. In addition, a mouse peritonitis model was made by peritoneal injection of thioglycollate medium and anti-inflammatory effects of BER were investigated in vivo by quantitative analysis of pro-inflammatory factor production and leukocyte exudation.


RESULTS
BER significantly inhibited inflammatory factor expression by LPS-stimulated macrophages and suppressed activation and superoxide release of fMLP-stimulated neutrophils. In the mouse peritonitis model, BER significantly inhibited the activation of macrophages and exudation of neutrophils. According to analysis, BER significantly suppressed phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPK (JNK and ERK1/2) signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated macrophages.


CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, data from this study suggest that BER has anti-inflammatory potential, which is effected via inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, and thus holds promise for treatment of inflammatory disease.
['Jia|Xiao-Jian|XJ|', 'Li|Xi|X|', 'Wang|Feng|F|', 'Liu|Han-Qing|HQ|', 'Zhang|Da-Jun|DJ|', 'Chen|Yun|Y|']
D000818:Animals D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents D017209:Apoptosis D044182:Benzylisoquinolines D028142:Berberis D001854:Bone Marrow Cells D002470:Cell Survival D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 D016207:Cytokines D015232:Dinoprostone D008070:Lipopolysaccharides D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System D008297:Male D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 D051379:Mice D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C D016328:NF-kappa B D009504:Neutrophils D010538:Peritonitis D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells
Berbamine NF-κB MAPK Macrophages Neutrophils Peritonitis