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Planta Med 1999; 65(4): 381-383
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960795
Letters

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Inhibition of Activator Protein 1 Activity by Berberine in Human Hepatoma Cells

Kazunori Fukuda1 , Yuko Hibiya2 , Michihiro Mutoh2 , Masatoshi Koshiji3 , Seigou Akao1 , Hisayoshi Fujiwara3
  • 1Department of Oriental Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
  • 2Cancer Prevention Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
  • 3Second Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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Publication History

1998

1998

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Activator protein 1 (AP-1) is a transcription factor which plays a critical role in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid present in plants of the genera Berberis and Coptis, on the activity of AP-1 using a reporter gene assay in human hepatoma cells. Berberine was shown to inhibit AP-1 activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner at concentrations higher than 0.3 µM. Berberine inhibited AP-1 activity almost completely as low as 10 µM after 48 h treatment. The inhibitory effect on AP-1 activity in cancer cells may further explain the anti-tumor promoting activity of berberine.