Berberine can Reduce Lung Cancer without Harming Healthy Cells

Is Berberine good at reducing Lung Cancer? According to the American Cancer Society, one out of 16 individuals develop lung cancer at some stage of their life. This is why lung cancer is the second most common cancer type in the USA. 

Present-day advancements have introduced effective treatment options. However, cancer relapse and resistance to traditional treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, are common. In such challenging conditions, recent studies from Qishan Hospital and Yicheng Traditional Chinese Medical Science Hospital show the highly promising effects of Berberine.

Scientists have discovered its antitumor properties as well. 

This recent study authored by Chinese researchers Xiaodan Xu, Yuanyuan He, and Jungang Liu has shown groundbreaking results on Berberine for lung cancer by examining its complex effects on cancer cells. 

What is Berberine?

Berberine is a naturally occurring yellow-colored bitter plant-based compound. It belongs to a class of substances known as alkaloids. Berberine is obtained through plants like European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric.

In the past, berberine has been used as a traditional Chinese remedy to fight inflammatory and infectious conditions. Its first record of use goes back to 3000 BC, and the classic text “The Divine Farmer’s Herb-Root Classic” mentions berberine as an effective remedy for several health conditions. Berberine’s complex structure and wide range of biological activities make it unique, which can help you fight lung cancer and prevent its relapse.

How Does Berberine Work on a Molecular Level?

The scientists have observed berberine’s course of action toward cancer cells through lab analysis and animal trials.

According to the research, berberine triggers a special activity in cells known as apoptosis. This process initiates self-destruction within the damaged aka. cancerous cells.

This is just the beginning—to interfere with the expansion of cancer, berberine limits cancer cell movement.

Furthermore, berberine also affects the production rate of new cancer cells. Such a multi-dimensional course of action of this plant-based chemical compound makes it an effective drug against lung cancer. 

One of the most encouraging aspects of berberine is the targeted mechanism. Unlike many other cancer treatments, it specifically targets the cancer cells without harming healthy body cells.

For instance, on a deeper level, it interferes with the cancer cells’ multiplication by disrupting the pathways that cancer cells rely on. One of these pathways is the PI3K/AKT pathway, which helps cancer cells to grow and survive. Berberine disturbs this special pathway through its complex mechanism, leading to reduced cancer cells.

Similarly, berberine influences tiny molecules called non-coding RNAs specifically. These molecules help regulate gene activity by turning them off and on. By affecting these non-coding RNAs positively, berberine suppresses the genes responsible for promoting lung tumor growth. This way, berberine further prevents cancer mushrooming.

This Chinese study has confirmed Berberine’s anti-cancer properties in the lab and validated its effects in animal models.

This is the reason the therapeutic potential of Berberine for lung cancer is extremely promising.

Combining Berberine with Other Treatments

The researchers have found berberine for lung cancer helpful in boosting the effectiveness of both chemotherapy drugs and other cancer therapies. For this reason, you can hope to see berberine working with other traditional medicines and treatments to defeat cancers.

However, utilization of berberine comes with a big challenge — it has low bioavailability. This means your body doesn’t absorb it effectively. That’s the reason scientists are still exploring ways to improve their effectiveness.

What’s Next for Berberine in Lung Cancer Treatment?

Undoubtedly, these findings of Chinese researchers are highly encouraging. However, experts have emphasized more clinical trials before adopting berberine as a mainstream add-on treatment for lung cancer without affecting the healthy cells because of its low toxicity levels as compared with traditional cancer treatments.