In vitro cytotoxicity of berberine against HeLa and L1210 cancer cell lines.
Previous studies on anti-cancer activity of protoberberine alkaloids against a variety of cancer cell lines were extended to human uterus HeLa nad murine leukemia L1210 cell lines. Cytotoxicity was measured using in vitro techniques and cell morphology changes were examined by light microscopy in both cytostatic and cytocidal concentration ranges. The IC50 was found to be less than 4 microg/ml, a limit put forward by NCI for classification of the compound as a potential anti-cancer drug. The microscopy examination indicated that at cytocidal concentrations the HeLa and L120 cells died apoptotically. The comparative analysis revealed that berberine belongs to the camptothecin family of drugs characterized by the ability to induce DNA topoisomerase poisoning and hence apoptotic cell death. Although the cytotoxic potency of berberine was found to be several orders of magnitude lower compared to camptothecin, its significance may increase in future in view of the lack of unwanted side effects characteristic for camptothecin compounds currently in clinical use for treatment of cancer.
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. kettmann@fpharm.uniba.sk
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Kettmann
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Kosfálová
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Jantová
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Cernáková
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Drímal
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D001599:Berberine / Q000633:toxicity*; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007939:Leukemia L1210 / Q000188:drug therapy; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D001599:Berberine