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. 2010 Apr 26;2(4):71-7.
doi: 10.4330/wjc.v2.i4.71.

Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of Berberine

Flora Affuso  1 , Valentina Mercurio, Valeria Fazio, Serafino Fazio
Affiliations

Cardiovascular and metabolic effects of Berberine

Flora Affuso et al. World J Cardiol. .

Abstract

Berberine (BBR) is a natural alkaloid isolated from the Coptis Chinensis. While this plant has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for more than 2500 years, interest in its effects in metabolic and cardiovascular disease has been growing in the Western world in the last decade. Many papers have been published in these years reporting beneficial effects in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, endothelial function and the cardiovascular system. In this review, we report a detailed analysis of the scientific literature regarding this topic, describing the effects and the underlying mechanisms of BBR on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, endothelial function and the cardiovascular system.

Keywords: Adenosine monophosphate kinase; Berberine; Endothelial function; Hyperlipidemia; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Counteracting effects of Berberine (BBR) on endothelial dysfunction. eNOS: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase; AMPK: Adenosine mono-phosphate kinase.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Most metabolic and vascular effects exerted by BBR are mediated by the activation of the AMPK cascade.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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