Berberine: a natural overachiever!

Berberine Structure

There’s simply too much information for me to completely compile and post on this incredibly powerful compound! Studies indicate that it can help treat diabetes, obesity, gut health, and cancer to name just a few! It has been used in traditional chinese medicine for thousands of years and comes from goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and tree tumeric. See below for just a few of the many links to primary research on this near-miraculous product. I’ve linked a source below for a liposomal formulation of it too.

Berberine (BRB), an alkaloid with anti-hyperglycemic and hypolipidemic properties, was recently shown to inhibit cellular lipogenesis, and respiratory complex I activity, exerting antiproliferative activity against tumor cell lines and tumor xenotransplants7–10, through mechanisms involving mitochondrial functions11,12. We, therefore, explored the in vitro cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of BRB on circulating leukemic cells derived ex-vivo from the peripheral blood of CLL patients and cultured in the presence of activating microenvironment stimuli.

Berberine affects mitochondrial activity and cell growth of leukemic cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Effects of Berberine and Its Derivatives on Cancer: A Systems Pharmacology Review

Berberine, an Epiphany Against Cancer

The Anti-Cancer Mechanisms of Berberine: A Review

Source: (Of course Amazon carries tons of berberine, but liposomal form is harder to find)

Berberine 97% Liposomal

Triptolide: Chinese Medicine Strikes Again!

Triptolide is a diterpenoid epoxide which is produced by the thunder god vine, Tripterygium wilfordii. It has in vitro and in vivo activities against mouse models of polycystic kidney disease[2] and pancreatic cancer, but its physical properties[3] and severe toxicity[4] limit its therapeutic potential. Consequently, a synthetic water-soluble prodrug, minnelide, is being studied clinically instead.

Triptolide has broad applicability to multiple cancer types. I’ve enclosed several links to the primary research below. Links to Minnelide, a more water-soluble synthetic prodrug of triptolide that is converted in vivo, are included as well. Thunder God Vine is a natural source of triptolide. Be warned that toxicity is a concern so approach with caution.

Triptolide: A new star for treating human malignancies

Targeting HSF1 disrupts HSP90 chaperone function in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Triptolide inhibits the proliferation of cells from lymphocytic leukemic cell lines in association with downregulation of NF-κB activity and miR-16-1

Triptolide induces caspase-dependent cell death mediated via the mitochondrial pathway in leukemic cells

Minnelide, a prodrug, inhibits cervical cancer growth by blocking HPV-induced changes in p53 and pRb

Minnelide, a novel drug for pancreatic and liver cancer

Minnelide/Triptolide Impairs Mitochondrial Function by Regulating SIRT3 in P53-Dependent Manner in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer