AIM: To investigate the effect of berberine on proliferation of in vitro pterygium fibroblasts and its possible mechanism.

METHODS: Pterygium fibroblast obtained from cultured pterygium tissue after surgical excision. Pterygium fibroblasts cells apoptosis level, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis-related factors mRNA and protein expression levels were detected after the induction of berberine with different final concentrations(0, 20, 40, 80μmol/L).

RESULTS: Berberine increased the mitochondrial depolarization level, apoptosis rate, expression level of pro-apoptotic gene Bax, Bad mRNA and protein, and decreased the expression level of Bcl-2 gene mRNA and protein in vitro pterygium fibroblasts cells in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION: Berberine may induce in vitro cultured pterygium cell apoptosis by increasing mitochondrial depolarization.