BERBERINE, COPTIDIS RHIZOMA AND DIOSPYRIN AS NOVEL ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS: A REVIEW ON TRADITIONAL USE AND BIOMEDICAL INVESTIGATIONS

ABSTRACT

            Natural products have played a vital role in drug discovery and development process for cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) and its major component, berberine, have drawn extensive attention toward their antineoplastic effects in the recent years The antineoplastic effects are related to the Chinese Medicine (CM) properties of Huangliang in treating diseases by removing damp-heat and purging fire and counteracting toxicity. Diospyrin, a plant based bisnaphthoquinonoid, has been used as a lead molecule in an effort to develop anti-cancer drugs. The aim of the review is to trace the long history of the traditional use of Coptidis rhizome (Huanglian) from folk medicines, especially from Chinese medicine, to recent pharmacological studies of Huanglian and its major component berberine and diospyrin with an emphasis on their antineoplastic effects and the promise as novel antineoplastic agents.

Key words: Diospyrin, anti-cancer, Reactive oxygen species, Chinese medicine, Copitidis rhizome, Huanglian, Berberine.