Potential Prophylactic Effect of Berberine against Rat Colon Carcinoma Induce by 1,2-Dimethyl Hydrazine

Abstract

Introduction: Colon Cancer remains one of the major worldwide causes of cancer related morbidity and mortality<br />in both genders. Berberine (BBR), a major component of alkaloids that possess a variety of pharmacological properties.<br />Objective: This study shows the ameliorating roles of berberine on 1,2 Di methyl hydrazine (DMH) induced colon<br />cancer in male Swiss albino rats. Methods: The rats were segregated into four groups: group 1, control rats; group<br />2, rats were orally received berberine (75 mg/kg b.wt./day) daily for ten weeks; group 3,rats were subcutaneously<br />injected with DMH (20 mg/kg b.wt) once a week for 8 weeks ,group 4, rats were treated firstly with berberine for<br />two weeks before DMH intoxication and concurrently with DMH over 8 weeks. Result: DMH injection decreased<br />the antioxidants levels (GSH and SOD) and increased inflammatory markers (MPO, MAPK and COX-2). Moreover,<br />it downregulated apoptotic markers (Caspase-3 and P53) expression that confirmed by colon cell proliferation. The<br />prophylactic effect of berberine was noticed as its pre-and co-administration increased antioxidants status and apoptotic<br />markers expression that associated with inflammatory markers down-regulation with absence of proliferated colon<br />cells. Conclusion: Therefore, the overall findings proved that the anti-proliferative effect of berberine return to its<br />antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that activated the programmed cell death process.