Berberine

Yellow solid; [Merck Index]

Solid

Berberine has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations during therapy, although there have been few prospective studies in humans that have reported on its effects on laboratory test results in any detail. In published trials, berberine has appeared to be well tolerated with only minor and few adverse effects which have been similar in frequency among persons receiving placebo. Despite wide scale use as an herbal supplement, berberine has not been linked to published instances of clinically apparent liver injury. The frequency of hypersensitivity reactions to berberine is also not known.

Sanguinarine [13-methyl (1,3) benzodioxolo(5,6-c)-1,3-dioxolo (4,5) phenanthridinium] kills animal cells through its action on the Na+-K+-ATPase transmembrane protein. Berberine, on the other hand, has been reported to cause cytotoxicity and adversely influence the synthesis of DNA. Studies have reported various pharmacological properties of these alkaloids, e.g., they exhibit antibacterial, antiasthma, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities.

This publication noted that berberine is an alkaloid from Hydrastis canadensis L., Chinese herb Huanglian, and many other plants. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antimicrobial in the treatment of dysentery and infectious diarrhea. The authors describe the cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives, tetrahydroberberine and 8-oxoberberine, e.g., berberine has positive inotropic, negative chronotropic, antiarrhythmic, and vasodilator properties. Some cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives are attributed to the blockade of K+ channels (delayed rectifier and K(ATP)) and stimulation of Na+ -Ca(2+) exchanger. Also, berberine prolongs the duration of ventricular action potential. Its vasodilator activity has been attributed to multiple cellular mechanisms. The authors note that the cardiovascular effects of berberine suggest its possible clinical usefulness in the treatment of arrhythmias and/or heart failure.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herb Coptis chinensis and other Berberis plants, has a wide range of pharmacological properties. This publication notes the mechanisms of berberine's functions have been extensively explored, and that berberine: 1) can be used to treat many diseases, such as cancer and digestive, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases, 2) has protective capacities in digestive diseases, 3) can inhibit toxins and bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori, protect the intestinal epithelial barrier from injury, and ameliorate liver injury, 4) inhibits the proliferation of various types of cancer cells and impedes invasion and metastasis, 5) improves the efficacy and safety of chemoradiotherapies, 6) regulates glycometabolism and lipid metabolism, improves energy expenditure, reduces body weight, and alleviates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, 7) improves cardiovascular hemodynamics, suppresses ischemic arrhythmias, attenuates the development of atherosclerosis, and reduces hypertension, 8) shows potent neuroprotective effects, including antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-ischemic, and 9) exerts protective effects against other diseases.