The Combinational Effect of Vincristine and Berberine on Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis Induction in Hepatoma Cells

• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24715
• Publication Date: 2013-11-14T12:58:50Z
• Authors: Ling Wang; Dandan Wei; Xiaojuan Han; Wei Zhang; Chengzhong Fan; Jie Zhang; Chunfen Mo; Ming Yang; Junhong Li; Zhe Wang; Qin Zhou; Hengyi Xiao
• Keywords: Growth inhibition

The use of vincristine, a known antitumor agent, in hepatoma therapy is limited particularly because its toxic effect. Meanwhile, berberine has drawn increasing attention to antineoplastic effect recent years. In view the advantages combinational drug treatment reported anti-cancer chemotherapy, we evaluated effects co-treatment vincristine and on hepatic carcinoma cell lines this study. We find that usage these two drugs can significantly induce growth inhibition apoptosis even under concentration barely showing cytotoxicity same cells when used alone. underlying mechanism about was addressed study by monitoring signals related mitochondrial function, apoptotic pathway endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our results suggest new value as potential adjuvant agent cancer chemotherapy provide hopeful approach for developing utilizing berberine. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 721–730, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.