| Most Common Name: |
Berberine | | Also
Known As (other names): | |
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Berberine: One of the isoquinoline alkaloids.
Berberine has been the subject of many studies on its antibacterial and
antifungal properties - current thinking is that the fact that beberine inhibits
DNA synthesis is the primary reason why it is effective against bacteria and
fungi. Berberine has also been studied to get a better understanding of its
alleged antiarrhythmic action and negative inotropic cardiac effect. Berberine
is also anti-inflammatory and has antitumour effects.
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Isoquinoline Alkaloids: A large class of medically active
alkaloids with very varied properties although this group does contain many
constituents from which the most habit forming drugs are made. Precursors of
isoquinoline alkaloids are tyrosine and phenylalanine.
Properties of these alkaloids range widely from
Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral to
analgesic, narcotic and antitussive, plus virtually everything in-between.
Because of this very wide scope each of the alkaloids should be regarded as
individual and no general properties can be attributed to the group known as
isoquinoline alkaloids.
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Alkaloids Typical alkaloids are alkaline organic vegetable
substances containing one or more nitrogen atoms. This nitrogen base is capable
of combining with acids to form crystalline salts. Most alkaloids are derived
from amino acids while a few are derived from isoprene units. Alkaloids are white or colourless solids containing oxygen (oxygen
free alkaloids are few and far between and then can only exist as liquids) Most
alkaloids are not water soluble, extraction is normally by tincture.
Alkaloids are found in about one quarter of all flowering plants. Thousands of
alkaloids have been identified from a large number of plants where the alkaloid
can be present in virtually every part of the plant or just a specific part like
rhizome, leaf or seed.
Alkaloids
generally have profound physiological impact on the human body and nervous
system effects are predominant.
Many alkaloids are used as extracted and refined compounds derived from the
actual plants or synthesised compounds in pharmaceutical drugs.
Several Alkaloids are banned in many countries because of the extreme impact
on the nervous system (strychnine for instance is a deadly poison in very small
doses) and the habit forming nature of some of the alkaloid compounds. |
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Berberine constituent is present in: |
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Medicinally Significant
volume |
Minor volume
Berberine is present in small quantities which may
not be enough to be a significant dosage for medicinal purposes
or Berberine is not the major constituent of this plant/herb |
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* Statements made
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or authority of any other country.
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