Description
Bergenin is a trihydroxybenzoic acid glycoside found in Bergenia and other plant sources. Bergenin exhibits immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, antimalarial, analgesic, antinociceptive, antioxidative, anti-diabetic, anti-metastatic, anticancer chemotherapeutic, and chemopreventive activities. In vivo, bergenin downregulates expression of NF-κB and IKKβ, decreases IgG levels, cytokine release, and other immune response mediators, and suppresses development of edema. In vitro and in vivo, bergenin inhibits growth of Plasmodium. In other animal models, this compound inhibits mechanical hyperalgesia. In diabetic rats, bergenin decreases levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL and increases levels of HDL, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Additionally, bergenin inhibits tumor development induced by TPA and DMBA.