A staggering 1.8 million people worldwide lost their lives to lung cancer in 2020. The World Health Organization says that it is the second most common type of oncology.
According to a new study, the natural herbal ingredient berberine can effectively inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells in a laboratory setting.
The study was done by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), who, like their colleagues abroad, have been looking for lung cancer therapeutic possibilities. There is currently no cure for the condition.
The UTS study team collaborated with academics from the International Medical University in Malaysia and Qassim University in Saudi Arabia to investigate berberine, which is found in numerous plants such as barberry, goldenseal, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric.
Kamal Dua, a senior research fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and principal author of the study, revealed in an interview with Medical News Today that the researchers observed that berberine inhibits the two key mechanisms of cancer advancement — cell proliferation and migration.
Berberine has also been discovered to minimize lung cell damage induced by cigarette smoke exposure and to fight inflammation, both of which raise the risk of cancer and other lung disorders.
Dua says “as berberine has poor solubility and bioavailability, its clinical application is limited.”
Dua says “as berberine has poor solubility and bioavailability, its clinical application is limited.”
The researcher remained cautiously enthusiastic about the study’s findings but emphasized that the potential of berberine to treat lung cancer should be verified.
The researchers want to keep studying the chemical, according to Dua, and expect that “berberine nanoformulation will show promising activity”.
What is Berberine?
Berberine is a bioactive chemical derived from numerous plants, notably the Berberis genus of shrubs.
It is classified as an alkaloid in the scientific community. It has a yellow tint and has been used as a dye in the past.
Berberine has a long history of usage in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases.
Modern science has now shown that it provides significant health advantages for a variety of ailments.
Berberine has been demonstrated to boost heart health, reduce blood sugar, and stimulate weight loss, to mention a few benefits.
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