Berberine mediates tumor cell death by skewing tumor-associated immunosuppressive macrophages to inflammatory macrophages

•Berberine inhibits IL-6 induced STAT-3 activation in macrophages.•Berberine enhances pro-inflammatory cytokine release from IL-10 induced immunosuppressive environment.•Berberine potentiated the generation of anti-tumor macrophages.•Berberine escalated MHC-II and CD40 expression and strengthen the adaptive immune response.•Berberine increased M1-like macrophages in the tumor micro-environment.