Title:Berberine: Pharmacological Features in Health, Disease and Aging
Volume: 31
Issue: 10
Author(s): Amin Gasmi, Farah Asghar, Saba Zafar, Petro Oliinyk, Oksana Khavrona, Roman Lysiuk, Massimiliano Peana, Salva Piscopo, Halyna Antonyak, Joeri J. Pen, Iryna Lozynska, Sadaf Noor, Larysa Lenchyk, Akram Muhammad, Inna Vladimirova, Natalia Dub, Olha Antoniv, Oksana Tsal, Taras Upyr and Geir Bjørklund*
Affiliation:
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine
(CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway
Keywords:
Berberine, metabolic effects, DNA, antimicrobial activity, microbial modulation, alternative therapy, obesity, aging, gero-suppression, neurodegenerative and neuropsychological disorders.
Abstract:
Background: Berberine is the main active compound of different herbs and is defined as
an isoquinoline quaternary botanical alkaloid found in barks and roots of numerous plants. It exhibits
a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects. Berberine
has antibacterial activity against a variety of microbiota, including many bacterial species,
protozoa, plasmodia, fungi, and trypanosomes.
Objective: This review describes the role of berberine and its metabolic effects. It also discusses
how it plays a role in glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, weight loss, how it modulates the gut
microbiota, and what are its antimicrobial properties along with its potential side effects with maximal
tolerable dosage.
Methods: Representative studies were considered and analyzed from different scientific databases,
including PubMed and Web of Science, for the years 1982-2022.
Results: Literature analysis shows that berberine affects many biochemical and pharmacological
pathways that theoretically yield a positive effect on health and disease. Berberine exhibits neuroprotective
properties in various neurodegenerative and neuropsychological ailments. Despite its
low bioavailability after oral administration, berberine is a promising tool for several disorders. A
possible hypothesis would be the modulation of the gut microbiome. While the evidence concerning
the aging process in humans is more limited, preliminary studies have shown positive effects in
several models.
Conclusion: Berberine could serve as a potential candidate for the treatment of several diseases.
Previous literature has provided a basis for scientists to establish clinical trials in humans. However,
for obesity, the evidence appears to be sufficient for hands-on use.
