Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties
Skin cancers are associated with a significant psychological burden across all age groups, particularly as their global incidence continues to rise. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation—primarily UVA and UVB—remains the leading etiological factor, inducing DNA mutations in key genes such as TP53 and BRAF. Amo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Cells |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1041 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406768811081728 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna Duda-Madej Patrycja Lipska Szymon Viscardi Hanna Bazan Jakub Sobieraj |
| author_facet | Anna Duda-Madej Patrycja Lipska Szymon Viscardi Hanna Bazan Jakub Sobieraj |
| author_sort | Anna Duda-Madej |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Skin cancers are associated with a significant psychological burden across all age groups, particularly as their global incidence continues to rise. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation—primarily UVA and UVB—remains the leading etiological factor, inducing DNA mutations in key genes such as TP53 and BRAF. Among skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most prevalent and typically indolent. In contrast, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tends to be more invasive, while melanoma is the most aggressive and prone to metastasis. Melanoma is especially concerning due to its rapid dissemination and its occurrence not only on the skin but also in ocular, mucosal, and nail tissues. These challenges, along with rising treatment resistance and mortality, underscore the urgent need for novel anticancer agents. Berberine—a plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloid—has attracted increasing attention for its broad-spectrum anticancer potential, including against skin cancers. In this review, we summarize current evidence regarding berberine’s mechanisms of action in melanoma and SCC, emphasizing both its preventive and therapeutic effects. We further explore its potential as an adjuvant agent in combination with conventional treatments, offering a promising avenue for enhancing the clinical outcomes of skin cancer therapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3105b2ad5da14d98a6ed24fc99055cc4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-3105b2ad5da14d98a6ed24fc99055cc42025-08-20T03:36:17ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-07-011414104110.3390/cells14141041Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer PropertiesAnna Duda-Madej0Patrycja Lipska1Szymon Viscardi2Hanna Bazan3Jakub Sobieraj4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandFaculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Ludwika Pasteura 1, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandFaculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Ludwika Pasteura 1, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandFaculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Ludwika Pasteura 1, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandFaculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Ludwika Pasteura 1, 50-367 Wrocław, PolandSkin cancers are associated with a significant psychological burden across all age groups, particularly as their global incidence continues to rise. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation—primarily UVA and UVB—remains the leading etiological factor, inducing DNA mutations in key genes such as TP53 and BRAF. Among skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most prevalent and typically indolent. In contrast, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tends to be more invasive, while melanoma is the most aggressive and prone to metastasis. Melanoma is especially concerning due to its rapid dissemination and its occurrence not only on the skin but also in ocular, mucosal, and nail tissues. These challenges, along with rising treatment resistance and mortality, underscore the urgent need for novel anticancer agents. Berberine—a plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloid—has attracted increasing attention for its broad-spectrum anticancer potential, including against skin cancers. In this review, we summarize current evidence regarding berberine’s mechanisms of action in melanoma and SCC, emphasizing both its preventive and therapeutic effects. We further explore its potential as an adjuvant agent in combination with conventional treatments, offering a promising avenue for enhancing the clinical outcomes of skin cancer therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1041anticancer activityberberinemelanomaskin neoplasmssquamous cell carcinomanatural compounds |
| spellingShingle | Anna Duda-Madej Patrycja Lipska Szymon Viscardi Hanna Bazan Jakub Sobieraj Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties Cells anticancer activity berberine melanoma skin neoplasms squamous cell carcinoma natural compounds |
| title | Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties |
| title_full | Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties |
| title_fullStr | Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties |
| title_short | Targeting Skin Neoplasms: A Review of Berberine’s Anticancer Properties |
| title_sort | targeting skin neoplasms a review of berberine s anticancer properties |
| topic | anticancer activity berberine melanoma skin neoplasms squamous cell carcinoma natural compounds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/14/1041 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annadudamadej targetingskinneoplasmsareviewofberberinesanticancerproperties AT patrycjalipska targetingskinneoplasmsareviewofberberinesanticancerproperties AT szymonviscardi targetingskinneoplasmsareviewofberberinesanticancerproperties AT hannabazan targetingskinneoplasmsareviewofberberinesanticancerproperties AT jakubsobieraj targetingskinneoplasmsareviewofberberinesanticancerproperties |