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Berberine Inhibits WEHI‐3 Leukemia Cells in Balb/C Mice In Vivo
Author(s) -
YU FUSHUN,
LIN CHINCHUNG,
YANG JAISING,
LIN YUHSUAN,
KUO TZUCHING,
YANG JIUNLONG,
KAO SHUNGTE,
CHUNG JINGGUNG
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1131-b
Subject(s) - berberine , in vivo , spleen , leukemia , apoptosis , in vitro , alkaloid , pharmacology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immunology , biochemistry , stereochemistry
Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti‐leukeima cells. Yet the exact effect on murine in vivo is unknown. Although berberine had been reported to induce apoptosis on human leukemia HL‐60 and murine WEHI‐3 cells, there are no reports regarding whether or not it affects leukemia cells in vivo. Therefore, the present studies are focused on the effects of berberine in vivo affecting murine leukemia WEHI‐3 cells. At first, we re‐examined the effects of berberine on the percentage of viable cells on WEHI‐3 cells in vitro and the results showed that berberine induced dose‐and time‐dependent effect manners. Second, we then examined the effects of berberine on leukemia WEHI‐3 cells in BLAB/c mice and the results indicate that berberine decreased the percentage of Mac‐3 marker, inhibiting the differentiation of precursor of macrophage and T cells. Third, we examined the weight of liver and spleen and the results indicated that berberine decreased the weight of liver and spleen. However, the important character of WEHI‐3 leukemia is the enlargely spleens in murine after i.p. injected WEHI‐3 cells. Fourth, based on the pathological examination we did see the function of berberine on the liver and spleen which came from the BLAB/c mice i.p. after injected by WEHI‐3 cells. Our result showed that berberine affects WEHI‐3 cells in vitro and in vivo. Further investigations are needed to find out the molecular mechanism.