Berberine and ginsenoside Rg3 act synergistically via the MAPK/ERK pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Publication date: March 2020Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 66Author(s): Fangliang Zhou, Jing Hu, Na Dai, Lan Song, Ting Lin, Jie Liu, Kairui Li, Zhuang Peng, Yingchun He, Duan-fang LiaoAbstractHerein, we investigated the effects of combining berberine (Ber; the major active constituent of Rhizoma coptidis) with ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3; an active ingredient of Panax ginseng) on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, and explored the underlying mechanism. Combining Ber with Rg3 synergistically inhibited the proliferation of NPC CNE2 cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, Ber combined with Rg3 induced apoptosis by promoting the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, and inhibiting the expression of Survivin, PCNA and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Ber combined with Rg3 plays a role in anti-NPC through MAPK/ERK pathway. Ber combined with Rg3 is a potent natural combination agent with potential for treating and preventing NPC.Graphical abstractCombining Berberine (the major active constituent of Rhizoma coptidis) with Rg3 (an active ingredient of Panax ginseng) synergistically inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of NPC CNE2 cells through MAPK/ERK Pathway in vitro and in vivo.
Source: Journal of Functional Foods - Category: Nutrition Source Type: research