Efficacy of berberine in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: From multiple targets to therapeutic potential

Dan-Na Huang; Fang-Fang Wu; Ai-Hua Zhang; Hui Sun; Xi-Jun Wang

doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105667

Efficacy of berberine in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: From multiple targets to therapeutic potential

Pharmacol Res. 2021 Jul:169:105667. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105667. Epub 2021 May 11.

Authors

Dan-Na Huang¹, Fang-Fang Wu², Ai-Hua Zhang³, Hui Sun³, Xi-Jun Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ National Chinmedomics Research Center, National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 24, Harbin, China; National Engineering Laboratory for the Development of Southwestern Endangered Medicinal Materials, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
² National Engineering Laboratory for the Development of Southwestern Endangered Medicinal Materials, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
³ National Chinmedomics Research Center, National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 24, Harbin, China.
⁴ National Chinmedomics Research Center, National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 24, Harbin, China; National Engineering Laboratory for the Development of Southwestern Endangered Medicinal Materials, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, Guangxi, China. Electronic address: xijunw@sina.com.

PMID: 33989762
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105667

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder involved in persistent synovial inflammation. Berberine is a nature-derived alkaloid compound with multiple pharmacological activities in different pathologies, including RA. Recent experimental studies have clarified several determinant cellular and molecular targets of BBR in RA, and provided novel evidence supporting the promising therapeutic potential of BBR to combat RA. In this review, we recapitulate the therapeutic potential of BBR and its mechanism of action in ameliorating RA, and discuss the modulation of gut microbiota by BBR during RA. Collectively, BBR might be a promising lead drug with multi-functional activities for the therapeutic strategy of RA.

Keywords: Berberine; Gut microbiota; Rheumatoid arthritis; Targets; Therapeutics.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
Berberine / pharmacology
Berberine / therapeutic use*
Humans

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Berberine