Berberine as a therapy for type 2 diabetes and its complications: From mechanism of action to clinical studies

Abstract

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly worldwide, and the development of novel anti-diabetic drugs is emerging. However, most anti-diabetic drugs cannot be used in patients with hepatic dysfunction, renal disease, and heart disease, which makes pharmacological therapy of type 2 diabetes complicated. Despite continued introduction of novel agents, the search for an ideal drug that is useful as both a hypoglycemic agent and to reduce diabetes-related complications remains elusive. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid extract that has shown promise as a hypoglycemic agent in the management of diabetes in animal and human studies. Mechanistic studies have revealed beneficial effects of berberine on diabetes-related complications. Although there have been few clinical reports of the anti-diabetic effects of berberine, little documentation of adverse effects in humans positions it as a potential candidate drug to treat type 2 diabetes. In the present review, the anti-diabetic mechanism of berberine, its effect on diabetes-related complications, and its recent use in human clinical studies is highlighted. In addition, we summarize the different treatments for type 2 diabetes in adults and children.

Effects of berberine on blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis

“…There are robust data showing that Berberine exhibits fewer side effects than western medicines in the majority of laboratory and clinical trials. Only a small fraction of patients who were treated with Berberine reported regurgitation, emesis, diarrhea, or constipation [41]. Moreover, Berberine can alleviate a variety of diabetic complications, including diabetic cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy [42].…”

Berberine induces GLP-1 secretion through activation of bitter taste receptor pathways

“…Berberine ([C 20 H 18 NO 4 ] + ), a major active constituent of Rhizoma coptidis, has been successfully used for diabetes [11,12]. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear due to the low bioavailability of berberine.…”

Gram‐scale production of carrier‐free fluorescent berberine microrods for selective liver cancer therapy

“…Recently, natural products from medical plants have attracted ever‐growing attention in cancer therapy due to their significant anticancer effects and low systemic toxicity . Berberine (Ber), an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from the Berberis species, has possessed several interesting properties such as anticancer, anti‐inflammation, and antibacterial activities . In particular, berberine has been widely demonstrated as a promising drug for the treatment of numerous cancers thanks to their widespread availability, superior safety, and low cost .…”