Effect of Berberine on the Proinflammatory Cytokines Production in Mice

Berberine has shown a number of beneficial effects, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and vasodilatory effects. In this work we investigated the effects of berberine on the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-, IL-, and IL-6 in mice. The supernatants of cultured splenocytes exposed with berberine or berberine plus LPS were harvested to assay TNF-, IL-, and IL-6. The sera from the mice injected with berberine or berberine plus LPS were then isolated to assay these cytokines. The TNF- production in mice splenocyte cultures exposed to berberine was inhibited compared to the PBS control. The sera from LPS plus berberine injected mice showed lower levels of TNF- compared to those of LPS only injected mice. The IL- production in mice splenocyte cultures exposed to berberine was inhibited at a high dose (3.0 ) compared to the PBS control. Also, the increase of IL- by LPS exposure in splenocyte cultures was inhibited by a high dose of berberine. The IL-6 in splenocyte culture supernatants showed lower levels after berberine compared to the PBS control. Also, production of IL-6 after LPS exposure in splenocyte cultures was inhibited by a low dose of berberine (0.3 ). These findings suggest the probability that berberine down-regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-, IL-, and IL-6.