Abstract

BERBERINE A POTENT SUBSTANCE FOR RESEARCHER: A REVIEW

Sharma Preeti, Upadhyay Prabhat*, Mishra Shardendu, Sadhu Ananya,
Purohit Suresh

ABSTRACT

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of isoquinoline alkaoloids. It is present in roots and stem-bark of Berberis species. Berberine has been isolated from various plant families including some are given as Papaveraceae, Berberidaceae, Fumariaceae, Menispermaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rutaceae, and Annonaceae. The alkaloid berberine has a tetracyclic skeleton derived from a benzyl tetrahydroisoquinoline system with the incorporation of an extra carbon atom provided by S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) via an N-methyl group. As a traditional medicine or dietary supplement, berberine has shown some activity against fungal infections, Candida albicans, yeast, parasites, and bacterial/viral infections. Its activity in carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms, diabetes mellitus treatment, endothelial function and the cardiovascular system has been investigated in the last decade with interesting results both in animals and clinical studies. These accumulated data may be helpful for its future research and important study of about berberine.

Keywords: Berberine, Antidiabetic, Isoquinoline alkaloids.