title: Berberine-induced growth inhibition of epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of berberine on the two human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 in relation to the potential usefulness of berberine in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Under adherent culture conditions, the cell lines were treated with berberine and analyzed for changes in cell growth. The cell cycle duration and degree of apoptosis were evaluated by means of propidium iodide staining and Annexin V staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the berberine treatment, the two cell lines showed a dose-dependent reduction in the growth rate. In the cell cycle analysis, the OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells showed an increased DNA content of 5% in the G2/M phase and 7% in the S phase, respectively. Additionally, the results confirm the cell cycle arrest by immunoblotting and the up-regulation of p27; however, in the apoptosis analysis, neither cell line showed an increase in apoptosis after the berberine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine treatment can inhibit proliferation through a cell cycle arrest in OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells. Thus, berberine may be a novel anticancer drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Bin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jaeman
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; C413374:p27 antigen; D001599:Berberine