Berberine and Its Role in Chronic Disease

Abstract

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of isoquinoline alkaloids. It is found in such plants as Berberis [e.g. Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Berberis aristata (tree turmeric)], Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Xanthorhiza simplicissima (yellowroot), Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree), Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread), Tinospora cordifolia, Argemone mexicana (prickly poppy) and Eschscholzia californica (Californian poppy). In vitro it exerts significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In animal models berberine has neuroprotective and cardiovascular protective effects. In humans, its lipid-lowering and insulin-resistance improving actions have clearly been demonstrated in numerous randomized clinical trials. Moreover, preliminary clinical evidence suggest the ability of berberine to reduce endothelial inflammation improving vascular health, even in patients already affected by cardiovascular diseases. Altogether the available evidences suggest a possible application of berberine use in the management of chronic cardiometabolic disorders.

Silymarin ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy via inhibiting TGF‐β1/Smad signaling

“…In addition, Berberine (BBR) is a type of isoquinoline alkaloid that is isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree) (Cicero and Baggioni, 2016). In addition, Berberine (BBR) is a type of isoquinoline alkaloid that is isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree) (Cicero and Baggioni, 2016).…”

“…Furthermore, our previous study reported that Shensong Yangxin Capsule improves DCM through influencing myocardial fibrosis . In addition, Berberine (BBR) is a type of isoquinoline alkaloid that is isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree) (Cicero and Baggioni, 2016). Numerous studies have suggested a potential effect of berberine on lipid and glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (Cheng et al, 2006;Chueh and Lin, 2012;Yang et al, 2012;Li et al, 2014).…”

Berberine: A potential adjunct for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers?

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Moreover, a growing preclinical literature suggests that BBR has a broad number of antinfective activities, [9][10][11] and it could also exert some protective effects against neurodegenerative processes. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Moreover, a growing preclinical literature suggests that BBR has a broad number of antinfective activities, [9][10][11] and it could also exert some protective effects against neurodegenerative processes.…”

“…Clinical data clearly show that BBR has interesting cardiometabolic effects, improving LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C plasma levels, insulin resistancerelated parameters (in pharmacologically treated patients with diabetes as well), in addition to exerting antihypertensive effects. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Moreover, a growing preclinical literature suggests that BBR has a broad number of antinfective activities, [9][10][11] and it could also exert some protective effects against neurodegenerative processes. 12 Also, recent data have shown that BBR could also exert some gastroprotective effects.…”

Predictive QSAR modeling study on berberine derivatives with hypolipidemic activity

“…Berberine (BBR, Figure ), an important isoquinoline alkaloid, is widely distributed in various medicinal herbs and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. Berberine displays various pharmacological activities that have applications in different therapeutic areas such as cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases . Especially in treating hyperlipidemia diseases, BBR has been identified as a new cholesterol‐lowering drug with a mechanism of action different from that of statin drugs, mainly through a post‐transcriptional mechanism that stabilizes the low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mRNA .…”