Berberine: Therapeutic Potential of an Alkaloid Found in Several Medicinal Plants

Berberine-containing plants are used medicinally in virtually all traditional medical systems, and have a history of usage in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine dating back at least 3,000 years. Berberine has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoans, viruses, helminths and chlamydia. In addition, berberine’s actions include: antagonism of the effects of cholera and E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin, inhibition of intestinal ion secretion, inhibition of smooth muscle contraction, inhibition of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, reduction of inflammation, elevation of platelet count in patients with primary and secondary thrombocytopenia, and stimulation of bile secretion and bilirubin discharge. Berberine’s most common clinical uses include: bacterial diarrhea, intestinal parasites, and ocular trachoma infections. Evidence also suggests intravenous berberine administration can play a role in preventing the onset of reentrant ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden coronary death after myocardial ischemic damage. (Alt Med Rev 1997;2(2):94-103) Berberine is an alkaloid present in a number of clinically-important medicinal plants, including Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Coptis chinensis (coptis or goldenthread), Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Berberis aristata (tree turmeric) (See Table 1 for a list of these plants and the part used medicinally). Extracts and decoctions of these plants have been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for at least 3000 years. Berberine has been shown to exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against a variety of bacteria, fungi, 9 protozoans, helminths, chlamydia, and viruses. 21 In addition to this antimicrobial activity, berberine has been found to have numerous pharmacological effects. Amin et al screened a total of 54 microorganisms for sensitivity to berberine, and found the alkaloid possesses antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and protozoa (see Table 2). In addition to those listed, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and some strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Cryptococcus neoformans exhibited moderate sensitivities. Berberine has been shown to inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.