title: Differential effect of Rhizoma coptidis and its main alkaloid compound berberine on TNF-alpha induced NFkappaB translocation in human keratinocytes.
abstract: The Chinese medicine Rhizoma coptidis (RC) is well established in the treatment of common dermatological disorders although the mechanism of its' anti-inflammatory effects have previously remained elusive. We stimulated an inflammatory state in human keratinocyte cultures using TNF-alpha in the presence of RC extract (RCE) and berberine, to identify the dose-dependent anti-inflammatory role of these compounds. Control data demonstrates significant translocation of NFkappaB into the nucleus after stimulation with TNF-alpha. This translocation can be inhibited, and hence anti-inflammatory effects inferred, by RCE but not by berberine. We conclude that in dermatological disorders berberine exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting signal transduction pathways other than the NFkappaB dependent pathway, while the RCE complex acts partially by blocking the NFkappaB dependent pathway. Rhizoma coptidis extract therefore appears to be a potent inhibitor of TNF-alpha induced inflammation in dermatological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik III, Universität Heidelberg, Germany. ronny.enk@dgtcm.de
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enk
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ehehalt
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bierhaus
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remppis
authors.forename: Henry Johannes
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Greten
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000089042:Coptis chinensis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001599:Berberine; C107393:Coptidis rhizoma extract