Liu, D., et al. (2019). A natural isoquinoline alkaloid with antitumor activity: Studies of the biological activities of berberine. Based on this evidence, the authors state that berberine is “highly expected to be effective, safe, and affordable” as a cancer-fighting agent. The authors of a 2018 study found wide variation in the content of various berberine capsules, which could lead to confusion about safety and dosages. They did not find that a higher cost necessarily reflected a higher quality product. Clinical evidence suggests that berberine can reduce endothelial inflammation and improve vascular health ( Cicero and Baggioni, 2016). Shi etal. further reported that berberine may modulate the composition of the GM in subjects with atherosclerosis ( Shi etal., 2018). Other studies have shown that berberine could be used to treat atherosclerosis by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia spp in mice(C57BL) fed a high-fat diet ( Zhu etal., 2018). In addition, berberine was shown to reduce HFD-induced metabolic endotoxemia and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the arteries and in the intestine. Both berberine and metformin have been shown to cause changes in more than 20 genera in db/db mice (C57BLKS/JNju, animal models of type 2 diabetes). Both of these treatments caused significant changes in the expression of seven OTUs, including increases in the prevalence of a range of SCFA-producing bacteria, including Butyricimonas, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus ( Zhang etal., 2019). Similar changes were observed in the content of SCFA-producing bacteria in the feces. Both of these treatments led to an increase in the populations of the symbiotic genera Lactobacillus and Akkermansia. In contrast, both treatments reduced the populations of Prevotella and Proteus, two types of opportunistic pathogens. Berberine and metformin were able to reduce weight gain and regulate the gut microbiome while suppressing intestinal inflammation and supporting the intestinal barrier ( Zhang etal., 2019).

Berberine: A Review of its Pharmacokinetics Frontiers | Berberine: A Review of its Pharmacokinetics

Also, results of a study of rats indicate that berberine could delay the onset of high blood pressure and, when it does develop, help reduce its severity. Obesity Doctors sometimes prescribe metformin, a diabetes drug, to treat PCOS. As berberine appears to have similar effects to metformin, it may also be a good treatment option for PCOS. A literature review found that berberine combined with a blood-pressure-lowering drug was more effective than the drug alone. One review reported that people who took 750 milligrams (mg) of barberry twice a day for 3 months had a significant decrease in weight. Barberry is a plant that contains high amounts of berberine.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Berberine

Berberine has also been shown to promote the interaction between retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) and nuclear β-catenin; this leads to the Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (c-Cbl)-mediated degradation of β-catenin, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of colon cancer cells ( Ruan etal., 2017). The Effects of Berberine on Other Diseases

Preparation and Evaluation of Antidiabetic Agents of - PubMed Preparation and Evaluation of Antidiabetic Agents of - PubMed

However, it is important to remember that researchers have only studied berberine’s effects on cancer cells in a laboratory, not in people. Gut health Furthermore, research suggests berberine may help support the blood-sugar-lowering effects of other diabetes medications when taken alongside them ( 3, 9, 10). Many people in China use traditional herbal formulations to treat diseases, as recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of China (2015). Such formulations have excellent efficacy, including clearing away heat, resolving dampness, purging fire, and detoxification ( Wang etal., 2017a). These formulations have been used to treat pharyngolaryngitis, typhoid, gastroenteritis, diabetes mellitus (DM), and secretory diarrhea for more than 1,000 years in China ( Yang etal., 2010). Berberine and its derivatives display several pharmacologic effects through various mechanisms ( Jin etal., 2016). Berberine may be therapeutic against various types of chronic diseases, such as obesity, DM, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases, due to its multiple-target effects ( Jin etal., 2016). Also, the binding of berberine with histone–DNA complexes can cause interferences in vital cellular processes, such as cell division and cause the death of cancer cells by activating the apoptosis in living cells ( Chen etal., 2016; Hasanein etal., 2017; Roudini etal., 2019). In vitro, berberine has important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

Conclusion and Perspectives

Xiaopeng Ai 1,2 Peiling Yu 2 Lixia Peng 1 Liuling Luo 1 Jia Liu 3 Shengqian Li 2 Xianrong Lai 1,3 Fei Luan 1* Xianli Meng 1,4* Wang, N., et al. (2015). Berberine and Coptidis Rhizoma as potential anticancer agents: Recent updates and future perspectives [Abstract].

Berberine Extract 1000mg 60 Capsules Vegan Organic Capsules Berberine Extract 1000mg 60 Capsules Vegan Organic Capsules

Reduces Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Berberine is thought to improve several risk factors related to heart disease, including high cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides, and inflammation. In the previously mentioned meta-analysis of 46 trials, berberine was also found to significantly reduce total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) while increasing HDL (“good cholesterol”). Berberine can create changes within the molecules of cells, and this could have another potential benefit: fighting cancer.

Berberine has also been shown to significantly reduce inflammation, fibrosis, and the levels of lipid peroxides in the liver ( Zhang etal., 2016). The lipid-lowering effect of berberine occurs via a series of continuous events, including bile salt hydrolase (BSH) inhibition, significant increases in the levels of tauro-conjugated bile acids (especially TCA), and the activation of the FXR signaling pathway. These events reduce the expression levels of CD36 in the liver which then leads to a reduction in the hepatic uptake of long-chain fatty acids and the modulation of lipid metabolism in the liver ( Sun etal., 2017). The combination of berberine and stachyose was previously shown to improve glycol-metabolism in T2DM mice (BKS-db) to a better extent than berberine alone ( Li etal., 2020); this effect occurred by changes in the regulation of the intestinal microbiota and fecal metabolomics. Following treatment with berberine and stachyose, there was a reduction in the abundance of Saccharibacteria, Deferribacteres, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, but an increase in the abundance of Verrucomicrobia. Furthermore, compared with berberine treatment alone, there was a significant increase in the abundance of Verrucomicrobia when stachyose and berberine were administered in combination ( Li etal., 2020). The Effects of Berberine on Cancer