Cited by 104Berberine and alkaloids researchNatural Antidiabetic Agents StudiesMetabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer

Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease

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Och, Anna, Och, Marek, Nowak, Renata, Podgórska, Dominika, Podgórski, Rafał·2022·Molecules

Abstract

In recent years, the health of patients exposed to the consequences of the metabolic syndrome still requires the search for new solutions, and plant nutraceuticals are currently being intensively investigated. Berberine is a plant alkaloid possessing scientifically determined mechanisms of the prevention of the development of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, as well as cardiovascular complications and cancer. It positively contributes to elevated levels of fasting, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin, while decreasing insulin resistance. It stimulates glycolysis, improving insulin secretion, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and adipogenesis in the liver; by reducing insulin resistance, berberine also improves ovulation. The anti-obesity action of berberine has been also well-documented. Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic, lowering the LDL and testosterone levels. The alkaloid exhibits an anti-inflammatory property by stalling the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2. Berberine is neuroprotective and acts as an antidepressive. However, the outcomes in psychiatric patients are nonspecific, as it has been shown that berberine improves metabolic parameters in schizophrenic patients, acting as an adjuvant during antipsychotic treatment. Berberine acts as an anticancer option by inducing apoptosis, the cell cycle arrest, influencing MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), and influencing transcription regulation. The inhibition of carcinogenesis is also combined with lipid metabolism.

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  • Popularization of berberine as "nature's Ozempic" on social media has generated a wave of unsupervised use.

    “On the other hand, its popularization as “nature’s Ozempic” on social media has generated a wave of unsupervised use [12,13].”

    From Berberine-Drug Interactions: Mechanisms, Clinical Relevance and Risk Stratification-A Narrative Review (2026) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Introduction says berberine is receiving great interest and discusses its traditional use and clinical research, but it does not address social-media promotion or unsupervised use. Searches for “nature’s Ozempic” and terms for uncontrolled use found no passage in our copy supporting the claimed wave of use. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Authors
Och, A., Och, M., Nowak, R., Podgórska, D., & Podgórski, R.
Affiliations
  • Medical University of Lublin (PL)
  • Parexel Poland Sp. z o.o., ul. Żwirki i Wigury 18a, 02-092 Warsaw, Poland
  • University of Rzeszów (PL)
Corresponding author
Och, Anna
Venue
Molecules
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-02-17
Volume
27
Issue
4
Pages
1351
ISSN
1420-3049 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4213166491
Cited by
104
References
171
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 4
FWCI
2.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecules (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Berberine and alkaloids research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
Keywords
berberine, plant alkaloids, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-obesity, anticancer effects, antidepressant effects, nutraceuticals, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, adipogenesis, MAPK signaling, cyclooxygenase-2
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Anticholesteremic Agents, Antineoplastic Agents, Berberine, Clinical Trials as Topic, Disease Susceptibility, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Phytotherapy, Prognosis, Antipsychotic Agents, Treatment Outcome, Disease Management, Metabolic Syndrome

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