Berberine, also known as
berberine hydrochloride and
isoquinoline alkaloid, is a major
alkaloid from Coptis chinensis.
Berberine's extensive biological properties have previously been studied, and it has been used clinically for the treatment of
diarrhea,
hypertension, diabetes and other diseases. The present study aimed to determine the possible anticancer effects of
berberine hydrochloride treatment on human
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell proliferation and apoptosis via the
matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and the
B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/
Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) signaling pathway. Human A549 lung
carcinoma cells were exposed to various concentrations of
berberine hydrochloride in order to analyze the possible anticancer effects on NSCLC cell proliferation and apoptosis, using a MTT assay and an
Annexin V-
fluorescein isothiocyanate/
propidium iodide apoptosis kit. Subsequently, the present study detected the expression of MMP-2, Bcl-2, Bax and
Janus kinase 2 (Jak2).
Berberine hydrochloride treatment inhibited the expression of
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and
transcription factor AP-1 (AP-1)
proteins, in A549 cells. Firstly, it was revealed that
berberine hydrochloride treatment may inhibit proliferation, increase cytotoxicity and enhance apoptosis in A549 cells. Subsequently, treatment with
berberine hydrochloride significantly downregulated MMP-2
protein expression, increased the activity of the Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway and suppressed the Jak2/
VEGF/NF-κB/AP-1signaling pathways. These results suggest that
berberine hydrochloride may be a potential novel anticancer drug, since it inhibits cell proliferation and promotes the rate of apoptosis of NSCLC cells by the suppression of the MMP-2, Bcl-2/Bax and Jak2/
VEGF/NF-κB/AP-1 signaling pathways.