Study says plant compound has potential to treat lung cancer

Berberine, a component found in some plants, has shown good results in the treatment of lung cancer, among other diseases, in in vitro tests performed in a study published in the scientific journal Pharmaceutics at the end of May.

The supplement, found in plants of the Berberis genus, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. At the same time, it has shown effectiveness in the fight against inflammation in lung cells due to oxidative stress and cigarette smoke.

In this way, researchers are now investigating the potential of berberine to control lung cancer cells. In in vitro cell studies, they were able to suppress tumor growth and also reduce the potential of tumor cells to spread throughout the body by regulating metastasizing cells.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one-third of cancer deaths are due to tobacco consumption, as well as a sedentary lifestyle, obesity and malnutrition. Lung cancer is among the most common types of cancer and is responsible for 1.8 million deaths in 2020 alone.

Among other solutions, the international collaboration of researchers from the Universities of Sydney, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia responsible for the research had to devise a new strategy to deliver the supplement to the cells. Due to its natural absorption mechanism and lack of water solubility, the researchers developed a technology involving liquid crystal nanoparticles.

Berberine is encapsulated in small soluble polymer balls that deliver the drug in the right doses and at the desired location. This control is extremely important as the wrong dose can be toxic to the body.

The researchers now hope to further the research and initiate more tests to prove the supplement’s effectiveness. Berberis herbs have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Indian medicine. ayurveda.

ARTICLE Pharmacy: doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14061119