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Review
. 2022 Apr 28:9:886996.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.886996. eCollection 2022.

Berberine as a Potential Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Xi Jiang  1 , Zhongxiu Jiang  2 , Min Jiang  3 , Yan Sun  4
Affiliations
Review

Berberine as a Potential Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Xi Jiang et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed and deadly malignancies worldwide. The incidence of CRC has been increasing, especially in young people. Although great advances have been made in managing CRC, the prognosis is unfavorable. Numerous studies have shown that berberine (BBR) is a safe and effective agent presenting significant antitumor effects. Nevertheless, the detailed underlying mechanism in treating CRC remains indistinct. In this review, we herein offer beneficial evidence for the utilization of BBR in the management and treatment of CRC, and describe the underlying mechanism(s). The review emphasizes several therapeutic effects of BBR and confirms that BBR could suppress CRC by modulating gene expression, the cell cycle, the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and several signaling pathways. In addition, BBR also displays antitumor effects in CRC by regulating the gut microbiota and mucosal barrier function. This review emphasizes BBR as a potentially effective and safe drug for CRC therapy.

Keywords: antitumor; berberine; colorectal cancer; gut microbiota; mucosal barrier.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Risk factors of CRC. CRC, colorectal cancer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The three distinctive oncogenic pathways involving CRC. CRC, colorectal cancer.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Molecular mechanism of BBR in the treatment of CRC. CRC, colorectal cancer; BBR, berberine; ROS, reactive oxygen species; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; IL-6, interleukin 6; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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