Berbamine Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects via Inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways.

Background/aims: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Berbamine (BER), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Berberis amurensis (Xiao Bo An), and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Macrophages and neutrophils were treated with BER in vitro and stimulated with LPS and fMLP. The effects of BER on the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages were evaluated with quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. The effects of BER on the activation and superoxide release of neutrophils were determined with flow cytometry and WST-1 reduction test. The inhibitory effects of BER on the activation of signaling pathways related to inflammatory response in macrophages were evaluated by western blot analysis. In addition, a mouse peritonitis model was made by peritoneal injection of thioglycollate medium and anti-inflammatory effects of BER were investigated in vivo by quantitative analysis of pro-inflammatory factor production and leukocyte exudation.

Results: BER significantly inhibited inflammatory factor expression by LPS-stimulated macrophages and suppressed activation and superoxide release of fMLP-stimulated neutrophils. In the mouse peritonitis model, BER significantly inhibited the activation of macrophages and exudation of neutrophils. According to analysis, BER significantly suppressed phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPK (JNK and ERK1/2) signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Conclusions: Collectively, data from this study suggest that BER has anti-inflammatory potential, which is effected via inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, and thus holds promise for treatment of inflammatory disease.