Berberine-cucurbit[7]uril complex boosts the antitumor effect of berberine

This study successfully constructed and systematically characterised a host-guest complex (Q[7]/BH) based on cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and berberine (BH), which significantly enhanced the antitumor efficacy of BH. Nuclear magnetic resonance, infra-red spectrometry, and fluorescence spectra analysis confirmed the formation of a stable 1:1 inclusion complex (Q[7]/BH) through host-guest interactions. In vitro cell experiments proved that Q[7]/BH had an inhibitory effect on various cancer cells, and in vivo antitumor results showed that Q[7]/BH significantly increased anticancer activity compared with BH. This work provides a supramolecular encapsulation strategy for optimising the activity of natural products.