Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid of barberry, lowers blood glucose and lipid

H. Schmandke, Bergholz-Rehbrücke

Berberine is found in the root, rhizome and stem bark of many plant species such as various Berberidaceae , Coptis chinensis Franch., Phellodendron amurense Rupr., Hydrastis canadensis L., Thalictrum lucidum Ait.

About 34 % of berberine are absorbed. In the human organism most of it is metabolized to berberrubine, thalifendine, demethylene berberine and jatrorrhizin, as free and glucuronide conjugates, without any significant metabolic activity of the intestinal flora. In the serum the berberine : metabolites ratio is about 1 : 45. The highest retention rate for berberine has been found in the heart and pancreas. Berberine and its metabolites are excreted via urine, bile and feces. Berberine lowers blood-glucose concentrations in the normal and diabetic organism, and improves insulin secretion in the normal organism.

In diabetes and hyperlipidemia, berberine also reduces serum cholesterol, LDL-c and triacylglycerol, while HDL-c has been found to increase. Cholesterol, triacylglycerol and fatty acid concentrations in the liver decrease. In-vitro experiments with hepatom cells, preadopcytes and adipocytes have shown that these effects of berberine are due to metabolic action under the influence of the extracellular regulated kinase/LDL receptor, AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.

Keywords: berberine, diabetes mellitus type II, hyperlipidemia, lowering of the blood-glucose concentration, lowering of blood fats.

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