Antitumor Effect Of Berberine And Its Differentiating Function On B16 Cells

Objective: To investigate the antitumor effects of berberine in vivo & in vitro, and differentiation induced by berberine on B16 cells.Methods: Berberine was administrated to treat mice transplanted solid tumors H22, U14 and S180. Tumor growth inhibition was observed. MTT assay was employed to determine the cytotoxicity of berberine on B16 cells and the cytotoxicity of single and combined drug of two drugs——berberine and Ara-C on HL-60 cells. Differentiating function of berberine on B16 cells was detected by the phase contrast microscope, nucleoplasmic ratio , the content of melanineon and tumorigenicty in C57 mice.RESULT: Berberine induced significant growth arrest on B16 cells cultured in vitro and effectively inhibited the growth of mice implanted solid tumor of H22, U14 and S180 in vivo. Berberine could increase cytostasis of HL-60 cells incubated by Ara-C. After treatment with berberine, morphologic differentiation arosed, nucleoplasmic ratio of B16 cells decreased, the content of melanineon increased and tumorigenicty in C57 mice decreased.Conclusion: Berberine had obvious antitumor activity in vivo & in vitro, and could induce the differentiation of B16 cells. Berberin could enhance the antitumor activity of Ara-C in vitro.