Berberine, a natural cholesterol reducing product, exerts antitumor cytostatic/cytotoxic effects independently from the mevalonate pathway

Oncol Rep. 2006 Dec;16(6):1273-6.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the mevalonate pathway in the cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of berberine, a natural plant alkaloid that reduces cholesterol concentration. Berberine as well as lovastatin, an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway, exerted dose-dependent cytostatic/cytotoxic effects against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB231). Although the mevalonate pathway metabolites (mevalonic acid, farnesyl pyrophosphate, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate) effectively reversed cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of lovastatin against MDA-MB231 cells, they were not effective in influencing the cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of berberine. The cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of berberine do not seem to result from inhibition of the mevalonate pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Berberine / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lovastatin / pharmacology
  • Mevalonic Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Berberine
  • Lovastatin
  • Mevalonic Acid