Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40421220›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Berberine in the treatment of radiation-induced skin injury: insights from proteomics and network pharmacology.

Jie Zou, Xia-Juan Xiao, Ping Zhang, Xing-Zi Huang, Jing Wang, Chun-Qin Tao, Xiao-Lan Ou, Gong Chen, Ting-Hao He, Long Yang and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Jie Zou *Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Xia-Juan Xiao *The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Ping Zhang *The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Xing-Zi HuangDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Jing WangDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Chun-Qin TaoDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Xiao-Lan OuDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Gong ChenChengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Ting-Hao HeChengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Long YangChengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
Biao HuangDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Dao-Jiang YuDepartment of Plastic and Burn Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Nuclear Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Yu ZhaoDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Radiation-induced skin injury (RISI) is a notable complication of cancer radiotherapy, impacting patients' quality of life. Existing interventions mainly address symptoms, with limited success in targeting the fundamental mechanisms. Berberine (BBR), a bioactive compound recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic characteristics, presents a compelling option for treating RISI. Methods: The molecular targets of BBR and RISI were identified using Swiss Target Prediction and GeneCards databases. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed, and core targets were screened with the Cytoscape plug-in. Molecular functions and pathways were analyzed through GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Proteomic analysis identified differential protein expression following BBR treatment. Molecular docking validated BBR's binding to core targets PRKACA and PIK3CB. Finally, the therapeutic efficacy of BBR was confirmed in irradiated cell and animal models. Results: BBR is pivotal in modulating molecular pathways linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue repair. Protein histology indicates a marked increase in epithelial migration and proliferation markers (KRT14, KRT16) and a decrease in inflammatory markers (IL6ST, TNFRSF10B). Enrichment of pathways like the MAPK cascade and epithelial development highlights BBR's role in skin regeneration. Molecular docking confirms BBR's stable binding to key targets PRKACA and PIK3CB, essential for cell proliferation and inflammation control. Moreover, BBR treatment promoted the proliferation of irradiated cells and accelerated wound healing in irradiated animal models. Conclusion: Berberine demonstrates multi-target therapeutic potential in managing RISI by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular repair processes. These findings provide a foundation for future clinical studies to optimize its dosage and delivery, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for RISI.

Indexed as

berberinenetwork pharmacologyproteomicsradiation-induced skin injury (RISI)wound healing

Identifiers

PMID40421220
PMCPMC12104247

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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.