Studied for
5 endpoints, 5 findings, from 4 papers — 2 of them found no effect.
- Adverse reaction incidence (unstandardised)no detected effectGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
- HOMA-IRlowersGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.
- Fasting blood glucoseno detected effectGrade C, Suggestive. Weak human evidence, or strong evidence in a mismatched population.
- Alanine aminotransferaselowersGrade D, Preliminary. Non-human or in vitro only.
- Aspartate aminotransferaselowersGrade D, Preliminary. Non-human or in vitro only.
Structure
Loading the model…
- Class
- Organic compound, cation
- Formula
- C20H18NO4
- Mass
- 336.367 g/mol
- Charge
- +1
- InChIKey
- YBHILYKTIRIUTE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- SMILES
- COc1ccc2cc3[n+](cc2c1OC)CCc1cc2c(cc1-3)OCO2
- Look it up
- ChEBIPubChemBy InChIKey
Identity from ChEBI, geometry from PubChem. Not evidence — none of it carries a grade.
What the evidence says
How to read these marks5 findings across 5 endpoints, from 4 papers, strongest first, 2 of them null.
What moved
3 findings
Decreases HOMA-IR
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.Finding“Improved insulin resistance was assessed by lowering FINS (MD = -2.05, 95% CI (-2.62, -1.48)), HOMA-IR (MD = -0.71, 95% CI (-1.03, -0.39)), and BMI (MD = -1.07, 95% CI (-1.76, -0.37)).”
Quoted verbatim from The Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
The Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.2021PMID:34956436
Decreases alanine aminotransferase
PreliminaryGrade D, Preliminary. Non-human or in vitro only.Finding“However, oral administration of BBR not only reversed hepatocyte necrosis, but also decreased the elevated levels of TBA, ALP, TBIL, DBIL, ALT, and AST ( Supplementary Fig. 1A, 1B).”
Quoted verbatim from Gut microbiota-mediated berberine metabolism ameliorates cholestatic liver disease by suppressing 5-hydroxytryptamine production.. - Study
- animal · not in humans
- Duration
- 7 days
- Population
- C57BL/6J mice with bile duct ligation-induced cholestatic liver injury; serum ALT by automated biochemical analyser
Gut microbiota-mediated berberine metabolism ameliorates cholestatic liver disease by suppressing 5-hydroxytryptamine production.2026PMID:41087029
Decreases aspartate aminotransferase
PreliminaryGrade D, Preliminary. Non-human or in vitro only.Finding“However, oral administration of BBR not only reversed hepatocyte necrosis, but also decreased the elevated levels of TBA, ALP, TBIL, DBIL, ALT, and AST ( Supplementary Fig. 1A, 1B).”
Quoted verbatim from Gut microbiota-mediated berberine metabolism ameliorates cholestatic liver disease by suppressing 5-hydroxytryptamine production.. - Study
- animal · not in humans
- Duration
- 7 days
- Population
- C57BL/6J mice with bile duct ligation-induced cholestatic liver injury; serum AST by automated biochemical analyser
Gut microbiota-mediated berberine metabolism ameliorates cholestatic liver disease by suppressing 5-hydroxytryptamine production.2026PMID:41087029
What did not
2 findings
Measured, and no effect detected. These are findings, not gaps — a trial that looked and found nothing is the most easily lost result in this field.
No detected effect on adverse reaction incidence (unstandardised)
LikelyGrade B, Likely. Human evidence, limited replication or design limits.FindingNull result“Nonetheless, the impact of BBR on reducing adverse reactions was not statistically significant (RR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.42, 1.33], P > 0.05).”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy and safety of berberine plus 5-ASA for ulcerative colitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- patients with ulcerative colitis; berberine plus 5-aminosalicylic acid versus 5-aminosalicylic acid
Efficacy and safety of berberine plus 5-ASA for ulcerative colitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2024PMID:39241013
No detected effect on fasting blood glucose
SuggestiveGrade C, Suggestive. Weak human evidence, or strong evidence in a mismatched population.FindingNull result“Notably, compared with the placebo, BBR did not change fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin or fasting proinsulin C-peptide levels (Supplementary Table 2).”
Quoted verbatim from Berberine is an insulin secretagogue targeting the KCNH6 potassium channel.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 15
- Dose
- single oral dose of 1 g berberine tablets
- Population
- 15 healthy men with normal glucose tolerance; secondary observation in a single-dose hyperglycaemic clamp trial, fasting glucose measured after an overnight fast before and after dosing
Berberine is an insulin secretagogue targeting the KCNH6 potassium channel.2021PMID:34556670