Berberine: Pathways to protect neurons.

摘要: Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, is demonstrated to have a variety of pharmacologic effects. Widely used as nonprescription drug for diarrhea, berberine has also broadened its applications in therapies cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, tumor, and so forth. However, researches about berberine's protective effects on nervous system are still insufficient that clinical uses cannot popularize underlying molecules mechanisms confused incomplete. Well-known pathways such Pl3K/Akt/Bcl-2 pathway, Nrf2/HO-1 MAPK signaling pathway help protect neurons through antiapoptotic, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory activities. New hypotheses been raised consistently explore more possible ways preventing nerves from injuries attention neuroprotective properties increasing. Therefore, this review trying analyze these mechanisms, which actually play roles neuronal disease models brain ischemia, Alzheimer's disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Much understanding how mediates provides novel insights into the treatment neurological disorders.