What is Berberine?
Berberine is a plant alkaloid particularly active in reducing cholesterolemia. This substance - with a bitter taste and an intense yellow color - is present in the bark, roots and stems, including underground ones (rhizome), of plants belonging to the Berberis genus, such as barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.).
Properties of Berberine
Due to its antimicrobial and antisecretive properties, the traditional use of berberine is aimed at the treatment of various kinds of infections, such as bacterial diarrhea and recurrent infections from Candida albicans.
For some years, however, the spotlight has focused above all on the cholesterol-lowering and hypoglycemic properties of berberine.
In this sense, this substance rose to the headlines in 2004, with the study published in Nature Medicine by Kong, Wei J, Abidi et al. (Berberine is a novel cholesterol-lowering drug working through a unique mechanism distinct from statins). During this research, berberine - taken orally by 32 hypercholesterolemic patients for three months - reduced plasma cholesterol by 29%, triglycerides by 35% and LDL cholesterol by 25%.
Particularly encouraging data, therefore, which in a short time led to the portrayal of berberine as a possible natural alternative to statins.
MAIN PROPERTIES OF BERBERINA
- Antiarrhythmics
- Antibiotics
- Hypocholesterolemics
- Hypoglycaemics
Action Mechanism
However, the mechanism by which this substance reduces plasma cholesterol levels differs from that exercised by statins. While these drugs decrease the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol, berberine increases the activity and number of liver LDL receptors, facilitating the removal of "bad cholesterol" from the blood.
However, the association of berberine with statins can produce an interesting synergistic effect, also due to its ability to inhibit a protein (PCSK9) responsible for the partial degradation of LDL receptors in the liver (which statins tend to promote).
In more recent times, new studies have highlighted the hypoglycemic efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also in this sense, the substance seems to act mainly at the receptor level, increasing the expression of insulin receptors. , with increased sensitivity to this hormone and reduced insulin resistance.
Side effects
The multiplicity of beneficial actions, the ability to operate at multiple levels and the absence of significant side effects, contribute to making berberine one of the most interesting supplements of the moment, on which the research of numerous scholars is focused. the first products based on berberine have already appeared, where it is often associated with other substances with similar activity, such as fermented red rice, policosanols and silymarin.
At commonly used dosages, berberine is well tolerated; at high doses, it can cause gastrointestinal disturbances, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, flu-like symptoms and heart changes.
As a precaution, it is not recommended for use in pregnancy and children.
Select plant Fir Acacia Acerola Sorrel Yarrow Yarrow Yarrow Aconito Adatoda Garlic Agnocasto Agrimonia Alchemilla Alkekengi Aloe Altea Witch Hazel Ammi or Visnaga Pineapple Andrographis Anemone Pulsatilla Angelica Anise Star Anise Japanese Star Anise Bitter Orange Bitter Areca Arnica Harpagophytum Arpagophyte Artemisia Asteragus Basil Asparagus Asparagus Peruvian Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus Hawthorn Boldo Borage Shepherd's Purse Boswellia Bucco Butea superba Cocoa Coffee Cajeput Calamus Calamus Marigold Camedrio Chamomile Roman Chamomile Camphor Cinnamon Ceylon Maidenhair Capuchin Artichoke Cardamom Cardiac Thistle Asian Thistle Carvi Cascara Cassia Catecu Catha Cabbage Celandine Chicory Centaurea Cinnamon Cypress Celandine Chives Cypress Coca Cola Colchico Combreto Condurango Comfrey Coriander Cranberry Barberry American Chrysanthemum Cumin Turmeric Damiana Digital Dioscorea Drosera Dulcamara Dunalilella Echinacea Eder a Ephedra Elenio Eleutherococcus Helichrysum Evening primrose Horsetail Alfalfa Erica Euphrasia Erisimo Escolzia Eucalyptus Farfara Farfaraccio Calabar bean Fenugreek Fennel Phytolacca Buckthorn Ash Fumaria Japanese mushrooms Galega Ganoderma lucidum Garcinia Cambogia Mulberry Gentian Juniper Broom GinkgoBiloba Ginseng Gramigna Grindelia Guaiaco Guar Guaranà Guggul Gymnema Hibiscus Hydraste Ipecacuana Hypericum Apple chestnut Ispaghul Hyssop Jaborandi Kava kava Konjac Laminaria Lauroceraso Lavender Lemongrass Lespedeza Lovage Icelandic lichen Lemon Flax Lippiairizia Marissa Marjoram Lichen Lichen Myrtle Marissa Marissa Myrtle Marissa Marissa Myrtle Marissa Marissa Myrtle Marissa Marissa Myrtle Marshmallow Cranberry American Cranberry Momordica Morus Alba Muira puama Nepeta Niaouli Nigella Walnut Nutmeg Walnut vomica Olive Meadowsweet Ononid Opuntia Oregano Orthosiphon Nettle Poppy Papaya Parietaria Feverfew Passiflora Chilli Perilla Perilla Pervinca Phyllanthus Plantain Peashopper Parsley Peppermint Pygmy Pepper Parsley Peppercorn Plygosha Pilosweed Ratania Rauwolfia currant Castor oil Rhodiola Rosehip Rosemary Rue Willow Sarsaparilla Sage Elder Sassafras Sedum Ergot Senna Serenoa repens Soy Solidago spirulina Tamarind Tan vinegar Dandelion Badger Tea Linden Thyme Tormentilla Clover Fibrin clover Thuja Uncaria Bearberry Valerian Vanilla Mullein Verbena Veronica Viburnum Vinca Pansy Mistletoe Vine Withania Yohimbe Saffron Ginger Pumpkin Select disease Juvenile Acne Rosacea Acne Tinnitus Aphthosis Aphthiae Affections Alitemia Allitemia Anxiety Arteriosclerosis Gouty Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Arthrosis Asthenia Asthenia Sex Man Asthenia Sex Woman Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis Eye Bags Bronchitis Gallstones Kidney Stones Salivary Stones Baldness Androgenetic Candida Fragile Hair Caries Headache Cellulitis Kinetosis Cystitis Ultrasound Cholesterol Disease Colecystopia Colecystopia Conjunctivitis Cholesterol Diaper Dermatitis Diabetes Diarrhea Erectile Dysfunction Dyslipidemia Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Vision Disturbances Hemorrhoids Epistaxis Cardiac Erethism Fever Fibroids algia Flatulence Phlebitis Gastritis Chilblains Gingivitis Herpes Loss of appetite Urinary infections Influenza Insomnia Hypersomnia Irritable bowel Prostatic hypertension Prostatic hypertrophy Jaundice Laryngitis Renal lithiasis Toothache Sore throat Thinness Menopause Meteorism Mononucleosis Octopus disease Alzheimer's Disease Dry sickness Vaccination Low Prostatitis Psoriasis Cold Breast fissures Anal fissures Gastroesophageal reflux Nasopharyngitis Rolls (abdominal fat) Wrinkles Salmonella Senescence Premenstrual syndrome Sinusitis Quit smoking Overweight Fatty liver Constipation Stomatitis Stress Cough High triglycerides Ulcer Burns Nails Fragile Vamphias Vampores Calms Amaricanti Analgesics Anesthetics Anorexics Antalgics Antacids Antiallergics Antiasmatics Antibiotics Anticatarrals Anticellulitics Anticonvulsants Ant idiaforetiche antidiarrheal edematous anthelmintic antiemetic Antiemorroidarie antiphlogistic Antiidrotiche Antinevrotiche Antioxidants antipyretic antirheumatic antiscorbutic Antiseptic antispasmodic anti-uric Aperitive Flavoring Astringent Balsamic Bechiche Capillarotrope cardiotonic Carminative Cathartic caustics Cicatrizant cholagogue choleretic Dyes Decongestants Deodorants purifying Detergents diaphoretic Disinfectants Detox Refreshing Diuretic Exciting emetic emmenagoghe Emollients Haemostatic Energy Epatoprotettrici Expectorants eupeptic photosensitizing Galattofore Galactogogues Moisturizing Immunostimulants Hypertensive Hypnotic Hypoglycemic Hypotensive Irritant Laxative Soothing Narcotic Nerves Nutrients Odontalgic Pectoral Purgative Revulsive Remineralizing Refreshing Rubefacant Stuffing sedative Stuffing Stuffing Stomach trittrici Vasodilatatrici Vermifuga Vesicatoria Vitaminiche Vulnerarie
.jpg)
