3: Planta Med. 2003 Jul ;69 (7):632-6.
The antihyperglycaemic activity of berberine arises from a decrease of glucose absorption.

Pan GY, Huang ZJ, Wang GJ, Fawcett JP, Liu XD, Zhao XC, Sun JG, Xie YY.
Center of Pharmacokinetics , China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing , China .

4: Planta Med. 2003 Jul ;69 (7):623-7.
Antimicrobial constituents from goldenseal (the Rhizomes of Hydrastis canadensis) against selected oral pathogens.

Hwang BY, Roberts SK, Chadwick LR, Wu CD, Kinghorn AD.
Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

5: Am J Cardiol. 2003 Jul 15 ;92 (2):173-6.
Efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Zeng XH, Zeng XJ, Li YY.
Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chengdu Second Municipal Hospital , China .

6: Nat Prod Res. 2003 Aug ;17 (4):269-74.
Microbial transformation of the phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid, (-)-beta-hydrastine.

Herath WH, Ferreira D, Khan IA.
National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USA .

The phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid (-)-beta-hydrastine is one of the main active constituents of the medicinal plant, Hydrastis canadensis, which is used in many dietary supplements intended to enhance the immune system. Treatment of hydrastine with the fermentation broth of Polyporous brumalis (ATCC 34487) as a model for mammalian metabolism, gave a new alkaloid, (1S)-hydroxyhydrastine. Structure elucidation was based primarily on NMR and chiroptical studies.

7: Phytother Res. 2003 Mar ;17 (3):217-21.
In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to isoquinoline alkaloids from Sanguinaria canadensis and Hydrastis canadensis.

Mahady GB. Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.

8: Pharmacol Toxicol. 2002 Oct ;91 (4):193-7.
The involvement of P-glycoprotein in berberine absorption.

Pan GY, Wang GJ, Liu XD, Fawcett JP, Xie YY.
Center of Pharmacokinetics , China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing , China .

10: Metabolism. 2002 Nov ;51 (11):1439-43.
Effects of berberine on glucose metabolism in vitro.

Yin J, Hu R, Chen M, Tang J, Li F, Yang Y, Chen J.
Shanghai Institute of Endocrinology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China.

11: Neurochem Res. 2002 Sep ;27 (9):883-9.
Berberine inhibited arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity and gene expression and DNA adduct formation in human malignant astrocytoma (G9T/VGH) and brain glioblastoma multiforms (GBM 8401) cells.

Wang DY, Yeh CC, Lee JH, Hung CF, Chung JG.
Department of Orthopaedics, China Medical College Hospital , Taichung , Taiwan , People's Republic of China .

Studies have demonstrated that berberine exhibits the antineoplastic action in rat model. Rat glial tumor cells also have been shown to have N-acetyltransferase activity. In this study, we reported the effects of berberine on arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity, gene expression, and DNA adduct formation in human brain tumor cell lines (G95/VGH and GBM 8401). The activity of NAT (N-acetylation of substrate) was measured and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assaying for the amounts of acetylated 2-aminofluorene (AF) and nonacetylated AF. Human brain tumor cells (G9T/VGH and GBM 8401) were used for examining NAT activity and gene expression and AF-DNA adduct formation. NAT gene expression was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the levels of mRNA NAT in both examined cells lines. The amounts of AF-DNA adducts were also determined and quantities by HPLC. The results demonstrated that NAT activity, levels of mRNA NAT1 and AF-DNA adduct formation in both examined cell were inhibited and decreased by berberine in a dose-dependent manner. The apparent values of Km and Vmax from NAT of both examined cells were also determined with or without berberine cotreatment. The data also indicated that berberine decreased the apparent values of Km and Vmax. These effects also indicate that berberine is a uncompetitive inhibitor.

12: Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002 Jan ;23 (1):77-82.
Identification of three sulfate-conjugated metabolites of berberine chloride in healthy volunteers' urine after oral administration.

Pan JF, Yu C, Zhu DY, Zhang H, Zeng JF, Jiang SH, Ren JY.
State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031,China.

14: J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2001 Dec ;31 (3):893-904 + 1p plate.
Evaluation of the effect of a plant alkaloid (berberine derived from Berberis aristata) on Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro.

Soffar SA, Metwali DM, Abdel-Aziz SS, el-Wakil HS, Saad GA.
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Berberine is a quaternary alkaloid derived from the plant Berberis aristata having antibacterial, antiamoebic, antifungal, antihelminthic, leishmanicidal and tuberculostatic properties. The effect of berberine sulphate salt on the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro was compared to the efficacy of metronidazole as a reference drug. Results showed that berberine sulphate was comparable to metronidazole as regards potency with the advantage of being more safe and possible replacement in metronidazole resistant cases.

15: Cardiovasc Drug Rev. 2001 Fall ;19 (3):234-44.
Cardiovascular actions of berberine.

Lau CW, Yao XQ, Chen ZY, Ko WH, Huang Y.
Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.

16: Planta Med. 2001 Oct ;67 (7):609-13.
Effects of hydrastine derivatives on dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells.

Kim SH, Shin JS, Lee JJ, Yin SY, Kai M, Lee MK.
College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University , Kaeshin-Dong, Heungduk-Ku, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea .

17: Planta Med. 2001 Aug ;67 (6):561-4.
Antibacterial activity of Hydrastis canadensis extract and its major isolated alkaloids.

Scazzocchio F, Cometa MF, Tomassini L, Palmery M.

18: J Pharm Sci. 2001 Jul ;90 (7):817-22.
High-performance liquid chromatography determination of hydrastine and berberine in dietary supplements containing goldenseal.

Abourashed EA, Khan IA.
National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy , University of Mississippi , University , Mississippi 38677 , USA .

19: Anticancer Drug Des. 2000 Aug ;15 (4):255-64.
The 9-position in berberine analogs is an important determinant of DNA topoisomerase II inhibition.

Krishnan P, Bastow KF.
Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599, USA.

A current model suggests that the intercalative and minor groove binding components of protoberberines and related compounds are important for DNA topoisomerase I and/or II inhibition. The significance of the 9-substituent in berberine on drug-topoisomerase II interactions is reported here and is based on a comparison of 9-ethoxycarbonyl berberine (compound 1), 9-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl berberine (compound 2) and 12-bromo berberine (methoxy group at 9-position; compound 3) as enzyme inhibitors. Compound 1 selectively inhibited topoisomerase II and stabilized cleavage complexes predominantly at unique sites and some background sites (depending on the concentration). This agent also allowed partial dissociation of enzyme from the DNA in the absence of religation, indicating unique interactions between 1, enzyme and DNA in the ternary complexes. Compound 2, which had similar DNA binding properties to 1, was not a topoisomerase II poison in the tested concentration range. In contrast, compound 3 was a stronger DNA binding agent but a much weaker enzyme poison both in vitro and in cell-based assays. The results show that the proposed drug domain for DNA intercalation is not a major determinant of enzyme inhibition for simple berberine analogs. Rather, the 9-substituent within the domain has a major influence, presumably by facilitating drug interaction with enzyme and/or enzyme-DNA complexes.

20: Pharmacol Toxicol. 2000 Nov ;87 (5):218-22.
Relaxant effects of Hydrastis canadensis L. and its major alkaloids on guinea pig isolated trachea.

Abdel-Haq H, Cometa MF, Palmery M, Leone MG, Silvestrini B, Saso L.
Department of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.

21: Phytother Res. 2000 Dec ;14 (8):612-6.
Antioxidants in medicinal plant extracts. A research study of the antioxidant capacity of Crataegus, Hamamelis and Hydrastis.

Periera da Silva A, Rocha R, Silva CM, Mira L, Duarte MF, Florencio MH.
Laboratorio de Genetica da Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, 1600 Lisboa, Portugal.

22: Am J Chin Med. 2000 ;28 (2):227-38.
Effects of berberine on arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct formation in human leukemia cells.

Chung JG, Chen GW, Hung CF, Lee JH, Ho CC, Ho HC, Chang HL, Lin WC, Lin JG.
Department of Microbiology, China Medical College , Taichung , Taiwan .

23: J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Aug ;71 (3):449-56.
Structural modification of berberine alkaloids in relation to cytotoxic activity in vitro.

Orfila L. Unidad de Cultivo Celular-Toxicologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmaceuticas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.

24: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Feb 15 ;97 (4):1433-7.
Synergy in a medicinal plant: antimicrobial action of berberine potentiated by 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin, a multidrug pump inhibitor.

Stermitz FR. Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins , CO 80523 , USA .

25: Cancer Lett. 2000 Jan 1 ;148 (1):19-25.
Inhibitory effect of Coptidis Rhizoma and berberine on the proliferation of human esophageal cancer cell lines.

Iizuka N, Miyamoto K, Okita K, Tangoku A, Hayashi H, Yosino S, Abe T, Morioka T, Department of Bioregulatory Function, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.

26: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1999 Sep ;63 (9):1557-62.
Inhibition of Candida rugosa lipase by berberine and structurally related alkaloids, evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Grippa E, Valla R, Battinelli L, Mazzanti G, Saso L, Silvestrini B.
Department of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.

It is known that certain microorganisms produce extracellular lipase to better colonize the skin and mucosal surfaces. Since different extracts from medicinal plants have anti-lipase activity (Shimura et al., Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 56: 1478-1479, 1992), we examined the effects of selected natural substances on Candida rugosa lipase. In the presence of the compounds under examination, the enzyme was incubated with beta-naphthyl laurate, and beta-naphthol, produced by the enzymatic reaction, was extracted with ethyl acetate and analyzed by reversed phase HPLC, using a C-18 column. Thus, the inhibitory activity was calculated by a proper formula based on the variations of the area under the chromatographic peak of beta-naphthol. The method was validated by analyzing substances with known anti-lipase activity such as saturated fatty acids (C10-16) and tetracycline. Berberine and a number of structurally related alkaloids such as chelidonine, chelerythrine, and sanguinarine appeared active. This property of berberine and sanguinarine is of interest because they are used in pathological conditions in which microbial lipases could play a pathogenic role.

27: Biomed Chromatogr. 1999 Nov ;13 (7):442-4.
Relationship between the clinical effects of berberine on severe congestive heart failure and its concentration in plasma studied by HPLC.

Zeng X, Zeng X.
Chengdu University and Section of Cardiology, Chengdu Second Municipul Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610081, People's Republic of China.

28: Br J Cancer. 1999 Oct ;81 (3):416-22.
Berberine modulates expression of mdr1 gene product and the responses of digestive track cancer cells to Paclitaxel.

Lin HL, Liu TY, Wu CW, Chi CW.
Department of Medical Research and Education, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

29: Am J Chin Med. 1999 ;27 (2):265-75.
Effects of berberine on arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in human colon tumor cells.

Lin JG, Chung JG, Wu LT, Chen GW, Chang HL, Wang TF.
Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical College , Taichung , Taiwan

30: J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Aug ;66 (2):227-33.
Inhibition by berberine of cyclooxygenase-2 transcriptional activity in human colon cancer cells.

Fukuda K, Hibiya Y, Mutoh M, Koshiji M, Akao S, Fujiwara H.
Department of Oriental Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.

The enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is abundantly expressed in colon cancer cells and plays a key role in colon tumorigenesis. Compounds inhibiting COX-2 transcriptional activity have therefore potentially a chemopreventive property against colon tumor formation. An assay method for estimating COX-2 transcriptional activity in human colon cancer cells was established using a beta-galactosidase reporter gene system, and examination was made of various medicinal herbs and their ingredients for an inhibitory effect on COX-2 transcriptional activity. We found that berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid present in plants of the genera Berberis and Coptis, effectively inhibits COX-2 transcriptional activity in colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner at concentrations higher than 0.3 microM. The present findings may further explain the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting effects of berberine.

31: Immunol Lett. 1999 Jun 1 ;68 (2-3):391-5.
Increased production of antigen-specific immunoglobulins G and M following in vivo treatment with the medicinal plants Echinacea angustifolia and Hydrastis canadensis.

Rehman J. Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California , San Diego 92161 , USA

A number of immunomodulatory effects have been attributed to the medicinal plants Echinacea angustifolia and Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis); however, little is known about whether treatment with these plants can enhance antigen-specific immunity. We investigated the antigen-specific in vivo immunomodulatory potential of continuous treatment with Echinacea and Goldenseal root extract over a period of 6 weeks using rats that were injected with the novel antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and re-exposed to KLH after the initial exposure. Immunoglobulin production was monitored via ELISA continuously over a period of 6 weeks. The Echinacea-treated group showed a significant augmentation of their primary and secondary IgG response to the antigen, whereas the Goldenseal-treated group showed an increase in the primary IgM response during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Our results suggest that medicinal plants like Echinacea or Goldenseal may enhance immune function by increasing antigen-specific immunoglobulin production.

32: Food Chem Toxicol. 1999 Apr ;37 (4):319-26.
Effects of berberine on arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in human bladder tumour cells.

Chung JG, Wu LT, Chu CB, Jan JY, Ho CC, Tsou MF, Lu HF, Chen GW, Lin JG, Wang TF.
Department of Microbiology, China Medical College , Taichung , Taiwan , Republic of China .

33: Planta Med. 1999 May ;65 (4):381-3.
Inhibition of activator protein 1 activity by berberine in human hepatoma cells.

Fukuda K, Hibiya Y, Mutoh M, Koshiji M, Akao S, Fujiwara H.

34: Int J Cancer. 1999 Jun 11 ;81 (6):923-9.
Berberine-induced apoptosis of human leukemia HL-60 cells is associated with down-regulation of nucleophosmin/B23 and telomerase activity.

Wu HL, Hsu CY, Liu WH, Yung BY.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine , Chang Gung University , Taiwan , China .

35: Cancer. 1999 May 1 ;85 (9):1937-42.
Up-regulation of multidrug resistance transporter expression by berberine in human and murine hepatoma cells.

Lin HL, Liu TY, Lui WY, Chi CW.
Department of Medical Research and Education, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

36: Eur J Pharmacol. 1999 Feb 26 ;368 (1):111-8.
Berberine inhibits ion transport in human colonic epithelia.

Taylor CT , Winter DC, Skelly MM, O'Donoghue DP, O'Sullivan GC, Harvey BJ, Baird AW.
Department of Pharmacology, University College Dublin , Belfield , Ireland .

37: J Nat Prod. 1998 Oct ;61 (10):1187-93.
Antitubercular natural products: berberine from the roots of commercial Hydrastis canadensis powder. Isolation of inactive 8-oxotetrahydrothalifendine, canadine, beta-hydrastine, and two new quinic acid esters, hycandinic acid esters-1 and -2.

Gentry EJ, Jampani HB, Keshavarz-Shokri A, Morton MD, Velde DV, Telikepalli H.
PathoGenesis Corporation, 201 Elliott Avenue West, Suite 150, Seattle, Washington 98119, USA.

38: Life Sci. 1998 ;62 (25):2283-94.
Inhibitory effects of berberine on voltage- and calcium-activated potassium currents in human myeloma cells.

Wu SN, Yu HS, Jan CR, Li HF, Yu CL .
Department of Medical Education and Research, Veterans General Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .

40: J Pharm Pharmacol. 1995 Dec ;47 (12A):1029-31.
Inhibition of in-vitro lymphocyte transformation by the isoquinoline alkaloid berberine.

Ckless K, Schlottfeldt JL, Pasqual M, Moyna P, Henriques JA, Wajner M.
Departamento de Bioquimica, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brasil.

41: Cancer Lett. 1995 Jul 13 ;93 (2):193-200.

Berberine complexes with DNA in the berberine-induced apoptosis in human leukemic HL-60 cells.

Kuo CL, Chou CC, Yung BY.
Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, Yang Ming Medical College , Taiwan , ROC.

42: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 Dec ;14 (12):718-20.
[Effect of berberine on transit time of human small intestine]

Yuan J, Shen XZ, Zhu XS.
Third People's Hospital of Suzhou , Jiangsu .

Sorbitol was used as a test sugar for the determination of small intestinal transit time (SITT) by means of breath hydrogen test (BHT). After oral administration of 15g sorbitol, breath hydrogen increased markedly (delta H2 > 5 mumol/L) in 26 of 30 subjects. Following ingestion of a mixture of meglucamine diatrizoate and sorbitol by 18 subjects, SITT measured by BHT correlated closely with the simultaneously determined time for the meglucamine diatrizoate in reaching ileo-cecum. The BHT was used to investigate the effect of berberine on SITT in human. SITT in 20 healthy subjects was 71.10 +/- 22.04 min, SITT was significantly delayed to 98.25 +/- 29.03 min after oral administration of the 1.2g of berberine (P < 0.01). This result suggested that the antidiarrheal property of berberine might be mediated, at least in part, by its ability to delay the small intestinal transit.

43: Gematol Transfuziol. 1994 Sep-Oct ;39 (5):33-5.
[Effect of berberine bisulfate on platelet hemostasis in thrombocytopenia patients]

Chekalina SI, Umurzakova RZ, Saliev KK, Abdurakhmanov TR.

The authors recommend berberine bisulfate for use as thrombocytopoiesis stimulator in thrombocytopenias as they have found secondary therapeutic property of this drug--to increase platelet count in patients with primary and secondary thrombocytopenia. The drug was given as monotherapy and in combined treatment 3 times a day for 15 days in a dose 5 mg 20 min before meals.

44: Life Sci. 1994 ;54 (26):2099-107.
Flowcytometric analysis of the effect of berberine on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Chi CW, Chang YF, Chao TW, Chiang SH, P'eng FK, Lui WY, Liu TY.
Department of Medical Research, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan , Republic of China .

45: Planta Med. 1993 Jun ;59 (3):200-2.
Inhibitory effects of berberine-type alkaloids on elastase.

Tanaka T, Metori K, Mineo S, Hirotani M, Furuya T, Kobayashi S.
Department of Pharmacology, Kohno Clinical Medicine Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.

46: Biol Neonate. 1993 ;63 (4):201-8.
Displacement of bilirubin from albumin by berberine.

Chan E. Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore .

A study was made of the effect of berberine, the major ingredient of the Chinese herb huanglian (coptis chinensis) reported to pose some risk for kernicterus among jaundiced newborn Chinese infants, on the protein binding of bilirubin, using the peroxidase kinetic method. Berberine was found in vitro, as to its displacing effect on a molar basis, to be about tenfold superior to phenylbutazone, a known potent displacer of bilirubin, and about hundredfold to papaverine, a berberine-type alkaloid. The chronic intraperitoneal administration of berberine (10 and 20 micrograms/g) daily for 1 week to adult rats (mixed breed of Wistar and Sprague-Dawley) resulted in a significant decrease in mean bilirubin serum protein binding, due to an in vivo displacement effect and a persistent elevation in steady-state serum concentrations of unbound and total bilirubin, possibly due to inhibition of metabolism. The use of the herb and other traditional Chinese medicines containing a high proportion of berberine is best avoided in jaundiced neonates and pregnant women.

47: Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1992 Sep ;27 (5):302-5, 319.
[The effect of berberine in sterilizing infective root canal of deciduous teeth]
Su RY .
Beijing Stomatological Hospital.

This investigation introduces the effect of sterilizing infective deciduous root canal with Chinese traditional herb berberine. Through the bacterial test, animal test, clinical practice, and comparing with the dental root disinfectant for mocresol (FC) and comphorphenol (CP) it indicates that berberine Chinese traditional herb is a excellent disinfectant for infective deciduous root canal.

48: Rev Int Trach Pathol Ocul Trop Subtrop Sante Publique. 1992 ;69:147 -65.
Berberine, a potential drug for trachoma.

Khosla PK, Neeraj VI, Gupta SK, Satpathy G.
Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

The clinical serological response to topical treatment of trachoma with Berberine an indigenous drug has been studied in 32 microbiologically confirmed cases. Efficacy of Berberine 0.2% when compared to sulfacetamide 20% was found to be superior in both the clinical course of trachoma and in achieving a fall in the serum antibody titers (P < 0.05) against chlamydia trachomatis in the treated patients.

49: J Formos Med Assoc. 1991 Jan ;90 (1):10-4.
Down-regulation of c-Ki-ras2 gene expression associated with morphologic differentiation in human embryonal carcinoma cells treated with berberine.

Chang KS . Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda , MD.

A pluripotent human embryonal carcinoma (EC) clone, NT2/D1, which was derived from the Tera-2 cell line, was induced to differentiate into cells with neuronal-like cell morphology by treatment with berberine, an alkaloid derived from a Chinese herbal medicine (Huang Lien). As early as one day after 24-hour treatment of cells with berberine at a nontoxic dose of 0.1 mg/ml in culture medium, the cells started to show morphologic changes, developing into terminally differentiated neuronal-like cells with long, inter-connecting network cellular structures. This process was much faster as compared with that induced by treatment with retinoic acid (RA), which took at least several days to develop. Unlike RA, berberine could not induce murine EC cell line, F9, to differentiate into endodermal cells. It was also found that although the NT2/D1 cell clone exhibited amplification and enhanced mRNA expression of c-Ki-ras2 gene as did the parent cell line, a marked down-regulation of c-Ki-ras2 mRNA expression was observed. However, there was no change in actin mRNA expression even after differentiation had occurred. Thus, morphologic differentiation of EC cells into neuronal-like cells was found to be associated with down-regulation of a protooncogene which plays some definite role in oncogenesis. The mechanism by which berberine induces differentiation in these cells needs further investigation.

50: Life Sci. 1991 ;49 (4):315-24.
Interaction of berberine with human platelet alpha 2 adrenoceptors.

Hui KK, Yu JL, Chan WF, Tse E .
Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine 90024 .

51: Cancer Lett. 1990 Dec 3 ;55 (2):103-8.
Berberine-induced morphologic differentiation and down-regulation of c-Ki-ras2 protooncogene expression in human teratocarcinoma cells.

Chang KS , Gao C, Wang LC.
Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda , MD 20892 .

52: Chin Med J (Engl). 1990 Aug ;103 (8):658-65.
Laboratory studies of berberine used alone and in combination with 1 ,3 -bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea to treat malignant brain tumors.

Zhang RX, Dougherty DV, Rosenblum ML .
Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical College , Shijiazhuang .

Berberine was evaluated for antitumor activity against malignant brain tumors. In addition, studies on combination of berberine with 1 ,3 -bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) were done. Several experimental approaches were used. In vitro studies were performed on a series of 6 human malignant brain tumor cell lines and rat 9L brain tumor cells (gliosarcoma) by using a colony forming efficiency (CFE) assay. 9L was also evaluated by a sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay. In addition, in vivo treatment of intracerebral 9L solid brain tumors was analyzed by CFE assay. Berberine used alone at a dose of 150 micrograms/ml showed an average of 91% cell kill (1.08 log kill) for the 6 malignant brain tumor cell lines. On the average, BCNU alone at a dose of 23 microM gave a 43% cell kill (0.24 log kill). Treatment with a combination of berberine and BCNU at 23 microM showed additive effects with an average of 97% cell kill (1.55 log kill). The relative number of SCEs for 9L cells was increased 2.7 times over background following in vitro treatment with 150 micrograms/ml berberine. Following in vivo treatment of animals harboring solid 9L brain tumors with 10 mg/kg of berberine, an 80.9% cell kill (0.69 log kill) was noted. This activity is equivalent to treatment with 1/3 LD10 dose of BCNU (4.44 mg/kg). In vivo combination treatment with berberine and BCNU showed additive cytotoxicity. Using a BCNU-resistant 9L subline (9L-2), treatment with berberine in combination with BCNU also demonstrated additive cytotoxicity. In conclusion, our results indicate that berberine has potent antitumor activity against human and rat malignant brain tumors .( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

53: Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi. 1990 Jun ;18 (3):155-6, 190.
[Ventricular tachyarrhythmias treated with berberine]

Huang W. Shanghai Xu Hui District Central Hospital .

The effects of berberine on 100 cases with ventricular tachyarrhythmias observed with 24 to 48 hour ambulatory monitoring were reported. The results showed that 62% of patients had 50% or greater, and 38% of patients had 90% or greater VPC suppression. The mean value of VPCs in whole group was significantly decreased by berberine from 452 +/- 421.8 beats per hour to 271 +/- 352.7 beats per hour (P less than 0.001). These results revealed that berberine is effective for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. There were no severe side effects, only mild gastroenterologic symptoms were observed in some patients.

54: Br J Pharmacol. 1990 Apr ;99 (4):727-30.
(+)-Hydrastine, a potent competitive antagonist at mammalian GABAA receptors.

Huang JH. Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney , NSW, Australia .

55: Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao. 1989 Mar ;10 (2):185-7.
Effect of d-hydrastine on the ultrastructure of experimental Echinococcus granulosus cyst in mice ]

Ye YC, Chen QM, Hai P, Chai FL , Zhou SX.

The ultrastructural changes in the germinal membranes of Echinococcus granulosus cysts treated with d-hydrastine (3.75 mg /( kg.d), ig) for 20 d were studied. Cysts from d-hydrastine treated mice were shown by transmission electron microscope to have dissolution of the microtriches, disturbance of organelles in their arrangement, dilatation and disruption of microtubules, increase in size and number of lysosomes, a decrease in number of Golgi complexes and lessening in density and swelling of mitochondria. Under scanning electron microscope, many pits arising from the outer and inner surfaces of the germinal membrane were observed. It seems that d-hydrastine has a profound intracellular effect on experimental Echinococcus granulosus cysts in mice, and that it may be a promising drug for treating hydatidosis.

56: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Sep ;32 (9):1370-4.
Berberine sulfate blocks adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to epithelial cells, fibronectin, and hexadecane.

Sun D. Veterans Administration Medical Center , Memphis , Tennessee .

57: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988 Aug ;32 (8):1274-7.
Influence of berberine sulfate on synthesis and expression of Pap fimbrial adhesin in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Sun D. University of Tennessee , Memphis .

58: Clin Cardiol. 1988 Apr ;11 (4):253-60.
Cardiovascular effects of berberine in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Marin-Neto JA. Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo.

Berberine, an alkaloid of the protoberberine family, has been shown to have strong positive inotropic and peripheral resistance-lowering effects in dogs with and without heart failure. To determine the acute cardiovascular effects of berberine in humans, 12 patients with refractory congestive heart failure were studied before and during berberine intravenous infusion at rates of 0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg per min for 30 minutes. The lower infusion dose produced no significant circulatory changes, apart from a reduction in heart rate (14%). The 0.2 mg/kg per min dose elicited several significant changes: (a) Decreases in systemic (48%, p less than 0.01) and pulmonary vascular resistance (41%, p less than 0.01), and in right atrium (28%, p less than 0.05) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures (32%, p less than 0.01). (b) Increases in cardiac index (45%, p less than 0.01), stroke index (45%, p less than 0.01), and LV ejection fraction measured by contrast angiography (56%, p less than 0.01). (c) Increases in hemodynamic and echocardiographic indices of LV performance: peak measured velocity of shortening (45%, p less than 0.01), peak shortening velocity at zero load (41%, p less than 0.01), rate of development of pressure at developed isovolumic pressure of 40 mmHg (20%, p less than 0.01), percent fractional shortening (50%, p less than 0.01), and the mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (54%, p less than 0.01). (d) Decrease of arteriovenous oxygen difference (28%, p less than 0.05) with no changes in total body oxygen uptake, arterial oxygen tension, or hemoglobin dissociation properties .( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

59: J Infect Dis. 1987 May ;155 (5):979-84.
Randomized controlled trial of berberine sulfate therapy for diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae.

Rabbani GH, Butler T, Knight J, Sanyal SC , Alam K.

60: Br Med J. 1985 Dec 7 ;291 (6509):1601-5.
Clinical trial of berberine in acute watery diarrhoea.

Khin-Maung-U, Myo-Khin, Nyunt-Nyunt-Wai, Aye-Kyaw, Tin-U.

61: J Pharm Sci. 1980 May ;69 (5):597-8.
Colorimetric and spectrophotometric determinations of hydrastis alkaloids in pharmaceutical preparations.

El-Masry S, Korany MA, Abou-Donia AH.

62: Biomed Mass Spectrom. 1978 Oct ;5 (10):559-65.
Quantitation of berberine chloride in human urine by use of selected ion monitoring in the field desorption mode.

Miyazaki H, Shirai E, Ishibashi M, Hosoi K, Shibata S, Iwanaga M.

A method is described for the microdetermination of berberine chloride in human urine by a field desorption mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring system using a deuterium labelled analogue of berberine chloride as an internal standard. Prior to the quantitation of berberine in human urine, the fundamental problems related to field desorption selected ion monitoring, such as quality of emitters, amounts of sample loading, and the programming rate of the emitter current, were statistically investigated in detail. Berberine chloride can be determined in a concentration of 10 ng ml- 1 in human urine by the method described. The analytical results were compared with those from gas chromatography mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring in the chemical ionization mode suggesting that the reliability of field desorption selected ion monitoring may be almost equivalent to that of gas chromatography chemical ionization selected ion monitoring.

63: J Chromatogr. 1978 May 11 ;152 (1):79-86.
Quantitative analysis of berberine in urine samples by chemical ionization mass fragmentography.

Miyazaki H, Shirai E, Ishibashi M, Niizima K.

A highly specific and sensitive method has been developed for the quantitative determination of berberine in human urine. In order to carry out the microdetermination of berberine by chemical ionization mass fragmentography, berberine was reduced with sodium borohydride in methanol to tetrahydroberberine and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Berberine concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml urine can be measured by this method, with [2H3 ]berberine chloride as an internal standard.

64: Neirofiziologiia. 1978 ;10 (3):295-9.
[Effect of strychnine, hydrastine and apamin on synaptic transmission in smooth muscle cells]

Vladimirova IA, Shuba MF.

The effects of strychnine, hydrastine and apamine on nervemuscle transmission in guinea pig stomach and taenia coli were studied. Hydrastine and strychnine produced an increase in non-adrenergic IPSPs of smooth muscle cells. Under apamine action IPSPs and hyperpolarization caused by exogenous ATP were reversibly blocked and non-cholinergic EPSPs appeared. ATP caused depolarization of the cell membrane in this condition. Consequently, apamine is a specific (postsynaptic) blocking agent of non-adrenergic inhibition and ATP obviously mediates both non-adrenergic inhibition and non-cholinergic synaptic excitation of smooth muscle cells observed in our experiments.

65: Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch. 1978 ;92 (4):723-30.
[2 new fluorochromation methods for blood smears and chromosomes using berberine sulfate following deoxyribonucleoprotein denaturation]

Hadjioloff AI, Zvetkova E.

The authors reported a Berberine sulfate technique based on DNP-denaturation with modifications for the purposes of fluorescent cytochemistry in cytology of blood and vaginal smears. A similar fluorochromation technique for staining of metaphase chromosomes and chromosomes in meiotic division has been applied. The fluorescent specificities, probably due to the differences in the denaturation properties of the hetero- and euchromatin desoxyribonucleoprotein-complexes, are discussed in comparison with other fluorochrome techniques and in relation with differences in distribution of hetero- and euchromatin and amounts of proteins in DNP, as far as DNA denaturation and tinction properties are concerned. The weaker fluorescence of immature (or leucemic) nuclei in blood smears and certain chromosomal regions would be due to the greater amount of active euchromatin (DNA which is slow reassociating or unstable to denaturation), which obviously does not bind to a sufficient degree the fluorochrome applied. The differences established in the fluorescence of active euchromatin and inactive heterochromatin zones by post-denaturing fluorochromation with Berberine sulfate gave grounds to recommend the application of these techniques in haematological and cytological (normal and abnormal) practice and for the cytogenetical and microfluorimetrical analyses.