Disease relevance of Berberis

• The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid present in plants of the genera Berberis and Coptis, on the activity of AP-1 using a reporter gene assay in human hepatoma cells [1].
• Previous research showed that berberine-containing Berberis species synthesise the substances 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin-D (5'-MHC-D) and pheophorbide a, which have no antimicrobial activity but inhibit the expression of multidrug resistant efflux pumps (MDRs) in Staphylococcus aureus and potentiate the action of berberine [2].
• We have determined the effects of berberine (Berberis aristita) on intestinal fluid accumulation due to enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) heat-stable (ST) toxin in suckling (24-days old) Wistar rats [3].
• We found that berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid present in plants of the genera Berberis and Coptis, effectively inhibits COX-2 transcriptional activity in colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner at concentrations higher than 0.3 microM [4].

High impact information on Berberis

• Molecular cloning and heterologous expression of a cDNA encoding berbamunine synthase, a C--O phenol-coupling cytochrome P450 from the higher plant Berberis stolonifera [5].
• A novel oxidase, catalyzing in the presence of oxygen the removal of four hydrogen atoms from a number of tetrahydroprotoberberines with simultaneous production of 1 mol H2O2 and H2O each, has been discovered and purified to homogeneity from Berberis wilsoniae cell cultures [6].
• Here we describe the activity of a natural small molecular compound, berbamine from plant Berberis amurensis that can selectively induce cell death of both Gleevec-sensitive and -resistant Ph+ CML cells [7].
• Using this method, the alkaloidal percentage of certain alkaloids (ajamalicine, papaverine, cinchonine, piperine, berberine) and some plant materials containing alkaloids (Berberis aristata, Solanum nigrum, and Piper longum) were determined [8].
• Berberis aetnensis C. Presl. extracts: antimicrobial properties and interaction with ciprofloxacin [2].

Anatomical context of Berberis

• Palmitine hydroxide isolated from the roots of Berberis chitria administered orally to dogs 30 mg/kg per day for 60 days brings about a consistent impairment of primary and secondary spermatocytes and elongated spermatids (Stages IV-VIII) [9].
• The antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of aqueous extract of barberry fruits were investigated on isolated guinea-pig ileum, and dose response curves of histamine and acetylcholine with and without extract were plotted [10].

Associations of Berberis with chemical compounds

• A cDNA encoding a cytochrome P450-dependent oxidase, berbamunine synthase (EC 1.1.3.34; CYP80), from cell suspension cultures of the higher plant Berberis stolonifera Koehne and Wolf (barberry) has been isolated and heterologously expressed in functional form in insect cell culture using a baculovirus-based expression system [5].
• Six isoquinoline alkaloids namely berberine, berbamine, palmatine, oxyacanthine, magnoflorine, and columbamine were isolated as the main components of alkaloidal fraction from the roots of Turkish Berberis species and effects were studied using various in vivo models in mice [11].
• Prevention of acetaminophen-induced liver damage by Berberis aristata leaves [12].
• Berberine, an alkaloid isolated from the plant Berberis aristata, has been found to inhibit significantly the carcinogenesis induced by 20-methylcholanthrene (200 microg/0.1 mL/mouse) or N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA; 0.02% NDEA in distilled water, 2.5 mL/animal by gavage, five days a week for 20 weeks) in a dose-dependent manner in small animals [13].
• The Berberis plants produce 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin-D, an MDR inhibitor that potentiates the action of berberine [14].

Gene context of Berberis

• These data indicate that the edible plant, Berberis aristata, contains active principle(s) that cause(s) a selective inotropic effect, involving-in the form of the modulatory effect on actin myosin cooperativity-a novel mechanism of action [15].

References