Abilities of berberine and chemically modified berberines to interact with metformin and inhibit proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells

Publication date: Available online 21 April 2019Source: Advances in Biological RegulationAuthor(s): Shaw M. Akula, Saverio Candido, Massimo Libra, Stephen L. Abrams, Linda S. Steelman, Kvin Lertpiriyapong, Giulia Ramazzotti, Stefano Ratti, Matilde Y. Follo, Alberto M. Martelli, Ramiro M. Murata, Pedro L. Rosalen, Bruno Bueno-Silva, Severino Matias de Alencar, Giuseppe Montalto, Melchiorre Cervello, Agnieszka Gizak, Dariusz Rakus, Weifeng Mao, Heng-Liang LinAbstractPancreatic cancer is devastating cancer worldwide with few if any truly effective therapies. Pancreatic cancer has an increasing incidence and may become the second leading cause of death from cancer. Novel, more effective therapeutic approaches are needed as pancreatic cancer patients usually survive for less than a year after being diagnosed. Control of blood sugar levels by the prescription drug metformin in diseases such as diabetes mellitus has been examined in association with pancreatic cancer. While the clinical trials remain inconclusive, there is hope that certain diets and medications may affect positively the outcomes of patients with pancreatic and other cancers. Other natural compounds may share some of the effects of metformin. One “medicinal” fruit consumed by millions worldwide is berberine (BBR). Metformin and BBR both activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which is a key mediator of glucose metabolism. Glucose metabolism has been shown to be very important in cancer and its significance ...
Source: Advances in Biological Regulation - Category: Biology Source Type: research