Berberine may help treat eczema exacerbated by S. aureus, according to new research presented at ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Atlanta, GA.
The research team conducted comprehensive analyses, including whole genome sequencing of isolated S. aureus strains from eczema patients. The results revealed resistance genes and toxin-encoding genes, underscoring the urgency for alternative treatments.
Berberine showed anti-inflammatory effects and inhibited mast cell degranulation, a key mechanism in eczema progression, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent. Mechanistic insights uncovered berberine’s ability to suppress genes associated with inflammatory pathways, and computational modeling identified key targets in the PI3K/AKT pathways.
“Berberine may be a valuable natural product for treatment of multi-drug resistant S. aureus-exacerbated eczema due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory [effects] and inhibition of mast cell degranulation,” says study author Anish R. Maskey, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow New York Medical in Valhalla, NY, in a news release.
