Radiotherapy Enhancing and Radioprotective Properties of Berberine: A Systematic Review

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#berberine #humans #radiation-protective-agents #neoplasms #radiation-sensitizing-agents

Radiotherapy Enhancing and Radioprotective Properties of Berberine: A Systematic Review

Raeisi et al., 2025 | Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov | Systematic Review

Citation

Raeisi Elham, Heidari-Soureshjani Saeid, ... Bagheri Zeinab. Radiotherapy Enhancing and Radioprotective Properties of Berberine: A Systematic Review. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov. 2025;20(5):681-696. doi:10.2174/0115748928315442240624120104

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Natural compounds such as Berberine (Ber) have been considered due to favorable anticancer properties, low side effects, and availability along with chemotherapy treatments. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing and radioprotective properties of Ber. METHODS: In this systematic review that was performed according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched the publications before 25 Sep 2023 in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. After determining inclusion and exclusion criteria, data were extracted and imported into an Excel form, and the results of the studies were reviewed. RESULTS: Ber by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and increasing interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels, showed its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties against ionizing radiation. Reducing cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis were other radioprotective properties of Ber. Conversely, in cancer cells, Ber, via inducing oxidative stress and accumulation ROS in tumor tissues, inducing DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and hyperpolarization, inducing apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest, inhibits the up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) revealed radiosensitizing properties. CONCLUSION: Ber, via various mechanisms, showed favorable radioprotective and radiosensitizing properties in clinical and experimental studies. However, more clinical studies are needed in this field.

Key Findings

Ber by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and increasing interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels, showed its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties against ionizing radiation. Reducing cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis were other radioprotective properties of Ber. Conversely, in cancer cells, Ber, via inducing oxidative stress and accumulation ROS in tumor tissues, inducing DNA da

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition stress

MeSH Terms

  • Berberine
  • Humans
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Neoplasms
  • Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Antioxidants

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: berberine

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09