ArticleMolecular carcinogenesis2015
Berberine regulates AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways and inhibits colon tumorigenesis in mice.
Article in Molecular carcinogenesis, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 63 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
63 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 123 citations in OpenAlex.
- Radiotherapy Enhancing and Radioprotective Properties of Berberine: A Systematic Review.Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery · 2025Pooled it
- Phytochemicals regulate cancer metabolism through modulation of the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway.BMC cancer · 2024Pooled it
- Investigation of exercise-mimetic bioactive molecules as modulators of MMP activity and expression in cancer cells.Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry · 2026Article
- Berberine and its derivatives as candidate modulators of immunosenescence: a critical evaluation.Biogerontology · 2026Review
- Metabolic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Berberine-Rationale for Its Therapeutic Potential in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Review
- Berberine as a Multifunctional Adjuvant in Cancer Therapy: Mechanistic Insights, Nanotechnological Strategies, and Translational Challenges.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Structural pharmacology of Chinese medicine: technological breakthroughs in decoding multi-target synergy and precision mechanisms.Advanced biotechnology · 2026Review
- Harnessing Phytochemicals and Nanotechnology Synergy for Molecular, Epigenetic, and Microbiota-Driven Regulation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.Pharmaceutics · 2026Review
- Targeting the mTOR Pathway with Natural Products: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Autism Spectrum Disorders.Current neuropharmacology · 2026Review
- Adjunctive berberine improves hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a retrospective case-control study.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Article
- Berberine's Impact on Apoptosis, Proliferation, Uptake Efficiency, and Nanoparticle-Based Therapy in DBTRG Cells.ACS nanoscience Au · 2025Article
- Integrating clinical evidence with natural product therapies for elderly-onset type 2 diabetes.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Review
- Guchang Zhixie Pill: A Comprehensive Review of the Clinical Applications, Toxicological Profile, and Quality Markers.Current topics in medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- PKA regulates autophagy through lipolysis during fasting.Molecules and cells · 2024Article
- The Therapeutic Effects of Bioactive Compounds on Colorectal Cancer via PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway: A Critical Review.Food science & nutrition · 2024Review
- A Descriptive Review of the Antioxidant Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Berberine and Silymarin.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- AMPK Deficiency Increases DNA Methylation and Aggravates Colorectal Tumorigenesis in AOM/DSS Mice.Genes · 2024Article
- Article
- Berberine inhibits the progression of renal cell carcinoma cells by regulating reactive oxygen species generation and inducing DNA damage.Molecular biology reports · 2023Article
3 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Colorectal cancer, a leading cause of cancer death, has been linked to inflammation and obesity. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes and anti-tumor properties. In the azoxymethane initiated and dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) promoted colorectal carcinogenesis mouse model, berberine treated mice showed a 60% reduction in tumor number (P = 0.009), a 48% reduction in tumors <2 mm, (P = 0.05); 94% reduction in tumors 2-4 mm, (P = 0.001), and 100% reduction in tumors >4 mm (P = 0.02) compared to vehicle treated mice. Berberine also decreased AOM/DSS induced Ki-67 and COX-2 expression. In vitro analysis showed that in addition to its anti-proliferation activity, berberine also induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell lines. Berberine activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a major regulator of metabolic pathways, and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a downstream target of AMPK. Furthermore, 4E-binding protein-1 and p70 ribosomal S6 kinases, downstream targets of mTOR, were down regulated by berberine treatment. Berberine did not affect Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) activity or the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Berberine inhibited Nuclear Factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activity, reduced the expression of cyclin D1 and survivin, induced phosphorylation of p53 and increased caspase-3 cleavage in vitro. Berberine inhibition of mTOR activity and p53 phosphorylation was found to be AMPK dependent, while inhibition NF-κB was AMPK independent. In vivo, berberine also activated AMPK, inhibited mTOR and p65 phosphorylation and activated caspase-3 cleavage. Our data suggests that berberine suppresses colon epithelial proliferation and tumorigenesis via AMPK dependent inhibition of mTOR activity and AMPK independent inhibition of NF-κB.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.