Research - Berberis Sp.
Effects of Berberine in the Gastrointestinal Tract — A Review of Actions and Therapeutic Implications
Chunqiu Chen,* Zhen Yu,* Yongyu Li,† Jakub Fichna‡ and Martin Storr§
*Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital † Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Digestive Disease Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ‡ Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland §Department of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich Munich, Germany Published 3 September 2014
Abstract:
Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid present in several plant species, including Coptis sp. and Berberis sp. In traditional medicine, extracts of berberine are used in the treatment of diarrhea of different origins. Recent studies have shown that berberine and its derivatives have significant biological effects on gastrointestinal (GI) and other functions and may become therapeutics for the treatment of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory conditions. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the actions of berberine in the GI tract. Binding and target sites, activated intracellular pathways, as well as the absorption and metabolism of berberine are discussed. Effects that may be useful in future clinical treatment, like antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects are critically reviewed and potential clinical applications are presented in detail.
Conclusion
Berberine has a wide spectrum of effects in the GI tract, as evidenced by results gathered in a series of basic and pre-clinical studies discussed in this review and summarized in Table 1. These include a potent anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antinociceptive action, to name just a few. Despite the fact that the targets and mechanisms of action remain unknown and require further investigations, berberine has potential to be widely used in clinics in the therapy of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal injury or metabolic diseases. The data presented above warrants interest in berberine as potential drug for GI diseases and encourages further studies.
Source : American Journal of Chinese Medicine
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Anticonvulsant Effect of Berberis integerrima L. Root Extracts in Mice
Hossein Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad Ramezani, Hojjat Shafaei,Elahe Taghiabadi
Abstract
Berberis integerrima is a member of Berberidaceae family. Berberine is one of the main constituents of this plant, having neuroprotective effect on central nervous system diseases. In this study, the anticonvulsant activity of methanolic extract, and hydromethanolic fraction, and chloroform fraction of B integerrima was assessed. The anticonvulsant effect of B integerrima was investigated using both pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure models. The LD50 value of the methanolic extract was 302.676mg/kg. In the PTZ test, methanolic extract (140 and 200mg/kg, i.p., p<0.01), hydromethanolic fraction (200mg/kg, p<0.01), and chloroform fraction (200mg/kg, p<0.01) increased the onset time of hind limb tonic extensions (HLTEs). The protective effect against mortality (convulsion survivors/animals tested) was 2/8 in methanolic extract, and 3/8 in hydromethanolic fraction at a dose of 200mg/kg and in chloroform fraction at a dose of 140mg/kg. In the MES test, this plant did not display any significant effect in reducing HLTE duration. According to phytochemical screening, methanolic extract contained alkaloids and tannins. The present study, conducted in mice, indicated that B integerrima has anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizures. It is concluded that B integerrima may be useful in petit mal epilepsy.
Source : Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
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