The Amazing Benefits of Berberine

Berberine is remarkable: we’ve long known that it was good to use in infections or liver troubles, but research has been unstoppable in demonstrating new benefits. Berberine is a bitter alkaloid possessing a brilliant yellow color, and plants containing berberine have been used for lending deep gold and bright yellow tints to fabrics and other materials. Plant sources of this versatile phytonutrient include Coptis, Berberis, Hydrastis, Mahonia, and Xanthorhiza species, and Phellodendron amurense is an increasingly common commercial source; berberine is generally found in the roots or bark of these plants.

Among berberine’s recent research findings:

• In type 2 diabetics, it lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity and liver function, at least partly by acting upon the insulin receptor
• It may counter central nervous system-specific oxidative stress and thereby help curtail neurodegenerative processes
• Per meta-analysis, it increases HDL cholesterol while lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol
• Per meta-analysis, it may be a useful adjunct in addressing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, improving hepatic enzyme and blood lipid levels
• It shows toxicity towards different cancer cell types while sparing normal cells
• It can help regulate heart rhythm, support healthy function within blood vessels, and it shows several other cardioprotective effects
• It possesses antimicrobial potential against a variety of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, even inhibiting biofilm development associated with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus)
• It beneficially altered microbiome composition in an animal study, improving balance between immune system components implicated in some autoimmune conditions (T-regulatory and T-helper 17 cells)

How can one phytonutrient do so much? Berberine interacts with a rich network of enzymes, cytokines, receptors, and even microRNAs (which play important roles in gene regulation), many of which are central to long-term immune balance, cellular aging, and how the body uses or stores energy. As an activator of the master energy-regulating enzyme AMPK (adenosine monophosphate kinase), it may help reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress and modify cells’ life cycles. This effect on AMPK also beneficially influences the inflammatory response, and would also be expected to encourage autophagy (the cellular ‘housekeeping’ program that clears out damaged organelles and encourages renewal) in normal cells under conditions of caloric restriction or intense physical activity.

Though berberine is not considered particularly toxic, it should not be used before or during pregnancy or breastfeeding; additionally, it can interact with and/or decrease the need for several types of drugs, and for these reasons it is recommendable that it be administered by a health care practitioner.