Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (735 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An alkaloid from Hydrastis canadensis L., Berberidaceae. It is also found in many other plants. It is relatively toxic parenterally, but has been used orally for various parasitic and fungal infections and as antidiarrheal.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Umbellatine.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Berberine Alkaloids
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 5,326 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Berberine” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 2,255 of them (42.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 2,255 records.
Reviews account for 406 records (7.6%) and meta-analyses for 38. Randomized controlled trials number 93 (1.7%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 443 |
| 2000-2009 | 666 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,962 |
| 2020 onward | 2,255 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 406 | 7.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 38 | 0.7% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 93 | 1.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Berberine"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Berberine ameliorates depression-like behaviors in mice via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and preventing neuroplasticity disruption [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectivesNeuroinflammation has been suggested that affects the processing of depression.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionThe anti-depressants effects of berberine were accompanied by reduced the neuroinflammatory response via inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and rescued the neuronal deterioration via suppression of impairments in synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (240 words)
ObjectivesNeuroinflammation has been suggested that affects the processing of depression. There is renewed interest in berberine owing to its anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we investigated whether berberine attenuate depressive-like behaviors via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice model of depression.MethodsAdult male C57BL/6N mice were administrated corticosterone (CORT, 20 mg/kg/day) for 35 days. Two doses (100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day) of berberine were orally administrated from day 7 until day 35. Behavioral tests were performed to measure the depression-like behaviors alterations. Differentially expressed gene analysis was performed for RNA-sequencing data in the prefrontal cortex. NLRP3 inflammasome was measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence labeling. The neuroplasticity and synaptic function were measured by immunofluorescence labeling, Golgi-Cox staining, transmission electron microscope, and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings.ResultsThe results of behavioral tests demonstrated that berberine attenuated the depression-like behaviors induced by CORT. RNA-sequencing identified that NLRP3 was markedly upregulated after long-term CORT exposure. Berberine reversed the concentrations of peripheral and brain cytokines, NLRP3 inflammasome elicited by CORT in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were decreased by berberine. In addition, the lower frequency of neuronal excitation as well as the dendritic spine reduction were reversed by berberine treatment. Together, berberine increases hippocampal adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity induced by CORT.ConclusionThe anti-depressants effects of berberine were accompanied by reduced the neuroinflammatory response via inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and rescued the neuronal deterioration via suppression of impairments in synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36859349 · DOI · PMC9976521
Anticancer Effects and Mechanisms of Berberine from Medicinal Herbs: An Update Review [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Cancer has been a serious public health problem.
- Closing excerpt
- This paper is helpful for the prevention and treatment of cancers using berberine.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (129 words)
Cancer has been a serious public health problem. Berberine is a famous natural compound from medicinal herbs and shows many bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and antimicrobial activities. In addition, berberine shows anticancer effects on a variety of cancers, such as breast, lung, gastric, liver, colorectal, ovarian, cervical, and prostate cancers. The underlying mechanisms of action include inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, suppressing metastasis, inducing apoptosis, activating autophagy, regulating gut microbiota, and improving the effects of anticancer drugs. This paper summarizes effectiveness and mechanisms of berberine on different cancers and highlights the mechanisms of action. In addition, the nanotechnologies to improve bioavailability of berberine are included. Moreover, the side effects of berberine are also discussed. This paper is helpful for the prevention and treatment of cancers using berberine.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35889396 · DOI · PMC9316001
A phase 2, proof of concept, randomised controlled trial of berberine ursodeoxycholate in patients with presumed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and type 2 diabetes [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is frequently associated with diabetes and may cause progressive liver disease.
- Closing excerpt
- It is relatively well tolerated and merits further development as a treatment for NASH with diabetes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (203 words)
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is frequently associated with diabetes and may cause progressive liver disease. Current treatment options are limited. Here we report on a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of two doses of HTD1801 (berberine ursodeoxycholate, an ionic salt of berberine and ursodeoxycholic acid), versus placebo that was conducted in 100 subjects with fatty liver disease and diabetes (NCT03656744). Treatment was for 18 weeks with a primary endpoint of reduction in liver fat content measured by magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction. Key secondary endpoints included improvement in glycemic control, liver-associated enzymes and safety. The pre-specified primary endpoint was met. Thus, subjects receiving 1000 mg twice a day of berberine ursodeoxycholate had significantly greater reduction in liver fat content than in placebo recipients (mean absolute decrease -4.8% vs. -2.0% (p = 0.011). Compared to placebo, subjects receiving this dose also experienced significant improvement in glycemic control as well as reductions in liver-associated enzymes and significant weight loss. Diarrhea and abdominal discomfort were the most frequently reported adverse events. We conclude that berberine ursodeoxycholate has a broad spectrum of metabolic activity in patients with presumed NASH and diabetes. It is relatively well tolerated and merits further development as a treatment for NASH with diabetes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34535644 · DOI · PMC8448729
Berberine Alleviates Shigella-Induced Dysentery by Regulating Intestinal Barrier and Inflammatory Responses [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has a long history of clinical use in treating dysentery.
- Closing excerpt
- flexneri-induced dysentery by enhancing the intestinal barrier and inflammatory responses, providing support for its clinical use.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has a long history of clinical use in treating dysentery. However, its precise mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the intestinal protective mechanisms of BBR against Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri)-induced dysentery in mice. We found that BBR significantly upregulated the intestinal barrier proteins ZO-1, occludin, and E-cadherin, enhancing intestinal mucosal integrity to inhibit S. flexneri invasion. Moreover, BBR effectively attenuated M1 macrophage polarization and restored the Th1/Th17/Treg balance to reduce inflammatory injury upon S. flexneri infection. Specifically, BBR reduced both the populations of Th1 and Th17 cells and their production of inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17A. Concurrently, it enhanced Treg cell populations and the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β1. Additionally, the intestinal protective effect of BBR was further augmented by an increase in secretory IgA (sIgA). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that BBR protects against S. flexneri-induced dysentery by enhancing the intestinal barrier and inflammatory responses, providing support for its clinical use.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41596706 · DOI · PMC12842174
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Berberis vulgaris and its active constituent, berberine [5]
- Research article Current knowledge and pharmacological profile of berberine: An update [6]
- Research article Biological properties and clinical applications of berberine [7]
- Research article The metabolism of berberine and its contribution to the pharmacological effects [8]
- Research article Berberine in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics [9]
- Research article Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension [10]
References
- Qin Z, Shi DD, Li W, Cheng D, Zhang YD, Zhang S, et al.. Berberine ameliorates depression-like behaviors in mice via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and preventing neuroplasticity disruption. . 2023. PMID 36859349 · DOI · PMC9976521
- Xiong RG, Huang SY, Wu SX, Zhou DD, Yang ZJ, Saimaiti A, et al.. Anticancer Effects and Mechanisms of Berberine from Medicinal Herbs: An Update Review. . 2022. PMID 35889396 · DOI · PMC9316001
- Harrison SA, Gunn N, Neff GW, Kohli A, Liu L, Flyer A, et al.. A phase 2, proof of concept, randomised controlled trial of berberine ursodeoxycholate in patients with presumed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and type 2 diabetes. . 2021. PMID 34535644 · DOI · PMC8448729
- Ding J, Zhang Y, Fan X, Han Y, Lin Y. Berberine Alleviates Shigella-Induced Dysentery by Regulating Intestinal Barrier and Inflammatory Responses. . 2026. PMID 41596706 · DOI · PMC12842174
- Imanshahidi M, Hosseinzadeh H. Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Berberis vulgaris and its active constituent, berberine. Phytother Res. 2008. PMID 18618524 · DOI
- Kumar A, Ekavali, Chopra K, Mukherjee M, Pottabathini R, Dhull DK. Current knowledge and pharmacological profile of berberine: An update. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015. PMID 26092760 · DOI
- Song D, Hao J, Fan D. Biological properties and clinical applications of berberine. Front Med. 2020. PMID 32335802 · DOI
- Wang K, Feng X, Chai L, Cao S, Qiu F. The metabolism of berberine and its contribution to the pharmacological effects. Drug Metab Rev. 2017. PMID 28290706 · DOI
- Feng X, Sureda A, Jafari S, Memariani Z, Tewari D, Annunziata G, et al.. Berberine in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics. Theranostics. 2019. PMID 31037148 · DOI · PMC6485276
- Lan J, Zhao Y, Dong F, Yan Z, Zheng W, Fan J, et al.. Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015. PMID 25498346 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.