Block of hERG Channels by Berberine: Mechanisms of Voltage- and State-Dependence Probed With Site-Directed Mutant Channels
Abstract
Berberine prolongs the duration of cardiac action potentials without affecting resting membrane potential or action potential amplitude. Controversy exists regarding whether berberine exerts this action by preferential block of different components of the delayed rectifying potassium current, I(Kr) and I(Ks). Here we have studied the effects of berberine on hERG (I(Kr)) and KCNQ1/KCNE1 (I(Ks)) channels expressed in HEK-293 cells and Xenopus oocytes. In HEK-293 cells, the IC50 for berberine was 3.1 +/- 0.5 microM on hERG compared with 11 +/- 4% decreases on KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels by 100 microM berberine. Likewise in oocytes, hERG channels were more sensitive to block by berberine (IC50 = 80 +/- 5 microM) compared with KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels (approximately 20% block at 300 microM). hERG block was markedly increased by membrane depolarization. Mutation to Ala of Y652 or F656 located on the S6 domain, or V625 located at the base of the pore helix of hERG decreased sensitivity to block by berberine. An inactivation-deficient mutant hERG channel (G628C/S631C) was also blocked by berberine. Together these findings indicate that berberine preferentially blocks the open state of hERG channels by interacting with specific residues that were previously reported to be important for binding of more potent antagonists.
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Reported potencies for direct hERG block differ markedly between expression systems, with an IC50 of approximately 3.1 μM in mammalian HEK-293 cells but approximately 75-80 μM in Xenopus oocytes.
“reported potencies for direct hERG block differ markedly between expression systems, with an IC50 of approximately 3.1 µM in mammalian HEK-293 cells but approximately 75–80 µM in Xenopus oocytes [84,86]”
From Berberine-Drug Interactions: Mechanisms, Clinical Relevance and Risk Stratification-A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [86]
Berberine blocks the hERG channel that carries IKr, with only weak effects on the KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels underlying IKs, and prolongs the action-potential duration and the QT interval.
“Berberine blocks the hERG channel that carries IKr, with only weak effects on the KCNQ1/KCNE1 channels underlying IKs, and prolongs the action-potential duration and the QT interval [84,86].”
From Berberine-Drug Interactions: Mechanisms, Clinical Relevance and Risk Stratification-A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [86]
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BindingDB (2020) · UC San Diego · doi:10.7270/q280554v
- Authors
- Rodriguez-Menchaca, A., Ferrer-Villada, T., Lara, J., Fernandez, D., Navarro-Polanco, R. A., & Sanchez-Chapula, J. A.
- Venue
- Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 21-29
- ISSN
- 0160-2446 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1985439086
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Berberine and alkaloids research
- Keywords
- berberine, hERG, delayed rectifier potassium current, channel block, pore helix, membrane depolarization, channel inactivation, HEK293 cells, Xenopus oocytes
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Berberine, Binding Sites, Cell Line, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Oocytes, Xenopus, Mutagenesis, Site-Directed, Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated, Potassium Channel Blockers, Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels, KCNQ1 Potassium Channel
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