Berberine

Category: other

Pharmacological Mechanism

ampk signaling activation; ldl receptor pcsk9 axis modulation; insulin glucose homeostasis insulin sensitivity.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 5h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 500 (Range: 500–1500)

Target Organ Systems

• cardiovascular
• endocrine

Interactions

• Metformin (synergistic): Same AMPK / Complex I axis — additive glucose-lowering, additive GI intolerance. Use with care.
• Cyclosporine (major): P-gp + CYP3A4 inhibition raises cyclosporine exposure — documented interaction. [Giacomini 2010]

Notes

Take with meals to blunt glucose response.

Pathways It Modulates

• AMPK energy sensor (activator) — AMPK (similar mitochondrial mechanism to metformin)
• Insulin signaling + glucose homeostasis (activator) — AMPK + glucose lowering (mechanism multifactorial)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 2353
• Formula: C20H18NO4+
• Molecular weight: 336.36 g/mol
• InChIKey: YBHILYKTIRIUTE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: COC1=C(C2=C[N+]3=C(C=C2C=C1)C4=CC5=C(C=C4CC3)OCO5)OC

References

• PMID 18397984
• PMID 21671182