Title:Berberine: New Insights from Pharmacological Aspects to Clinical Evidences in the Management of Metabolic Disorders
Volume: 23
Issue: 14
Author(s): Cristiana Caliceti, Placido Franco, Silvia Spinozzi, Aldo Roda and Arrigo F.G. Cicero
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Berberine, physico-chemical properties, metabolites, bioavailability, safety, hyperglicemia, lipid disorders,
cardiovascular disease.
Abstract: Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of isoquinoline
alkaloids found in such plants as gender Berberis. Berberine is recognised to improve
glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and preliminary clinical evidences suggest the
ability of berberine to reduce endothelial inflammation improving vascular health, even in
patients already affected by cardiovascular diseases, suggesting a possible interesting role of
berberine and its metabolites in clinical practice. However, its physicochemical properties,
pharmacokinetic, and metabolism are not fully elucidated and contradictory data have been
reported.
This review provides a summary regarding the pharmacological and biological features of berberine, with a
focus on berberine as well as their pharmacologically active metabolites and the different mechanisms underlying
their activities in order to clarify the correct use of berberine supplementation, alone or in association
with other nutraceuticals, for the management of metabolic disorders associated to increased cardiovascular
disease risk. A particular attention has also been given to the available clinical trials assessing its short- and
middle- term use tolerability, safety and efficacy in various conditions, such as dyslipidaemia, impaired fasting
glucose, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
