Antiangiogenic activity of berberine is mediated through the downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1, VEGF, and proinflammatory mediators.

Berberine, a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid, is present in a number of important medicinal plants. Berberine has a wide range of biochemical and pharmacological effects, including anticancer effects. In this study, we elucidated the mechanism of antiangiogenic activity of berberine using in vivo and in vitro models.

Ipobscurine, an indole alkaloid from Ipomoea obscura, inhibits tumor cell invasion and experimental metastasis by inducing apoptosis.

In the present study, we demonstrate that ipobscurine, an indole alkaloid fraction isolated from Ipomoea obscura, can reduce the formation of B16F-10 melanoma-induced metastatic nodules and inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of B16F-10 melanoma cells in vitro, possibly by inhibiting pro-metastatic genes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammatory mediators such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Ipobscurine may also promote apoptosis by up-regulating pro-apoptotic molecules such as caspase-3, p53, and Bax and by down-regulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. In addition, we have observed that ipobscurine suppresses various transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and activator protein, which are possibly associated with the suppression of apoptosis in cancer cells.

Studies on anti-metastatic and anti-invasive effects of harmine using highly metastatic murine B16F-10 melanoma cells.

Harmine is a beta-carboline alkaloid from the plant Peganum harmala. We evaluated the anti-metastatic activity of harmine using in vivo mouse lung metastasis and in vitro models. Lung metastasis was induced using B16F-10 melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice by three different modalities of administration: simultaneous, prophylactic, and after tumor development.

Berberine inhibits pulmonary metastasis through down-regulation of MMP in metastatic B16F-10 melanoma cells.

The present study demonstrated the potential antimetastatic and antiinvasive effect of berberine using both in vivo mouse lung metastasis and in vitro models. Administration of berberine resulted in significant suppression of B16F-10 melanoma induced tumor nodule formation and enhanced the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Berberine treatment also decreased various biochemical parameters associated with lung metastasis.

Inhibition of invasion and experimental metastasis of murine melanoma cells by Ipomoea obscura (L.) is mediated through the down-regulation of inflammatory mediators and matrix-metalloproteinases.

In this study, we tested the anti-metastatic activity of Ipomoea obscura extract and elucidated its underlying mechanisms by in vitro system using B16F-10 melanoma cells and in vivo experimental lung metastasis model. I. obscura suppressed proliferation, invasion and migration of highly metastatic B16F-10 melanoma cells in vitro.