Berberine for Adjunct/Alternative Treatment of Dyslipidemia: A Literature Review

Endurance O Evbayekha; Elochukwu U Nwachukwu; Elham Nikravesh; Valene Rosas; Chinwendu A Onuegbu; Obinna F Egwuonwu; Osazee Eguagie; Ogochukwu E Chioma; Awanwosa V Agho; Kemar A Samuels; Anthony Willie; Jane N Nwafor; Laura N Esene-Akhideno; Aisha O Adigun

doi:10.7759/cureus.39261

Berberine for Adjunct/Alternative Treatment of Dyslipidemia: A Literature Review

Cureus. 2023 May 20;15(5):e39261. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39261. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, USA.
² Family Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, NGA.
³ Family Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, IRN.
⁴ Psychiatry, MCR Behavioral Health Services, Temecula, USA.
⁵ Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, USA.
⁶ Family Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, NGA.
⁷ Medicine, St. George's University, True Blue, GRD.
⁸ Surgery, Federal Medical Center Keffi, Keffi, NGA.
⁹ Internal Medicine, University of Benin, Benin, NGA.
¹⁰ Internal Medicine, Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina, Havana, CUB.
¹¹ Emergency Medicine, Igbinedion University Okada, Benin, NGA.
¹² Internal Medicine, University of the District of Columbia, Silver Spring, USA.
¹³ School of Medicine, American University of St. Vincent, Kingstown, VCT.
¹⁴ Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.

Abstract

Berberine (BBR) is an ancient plant popular in China and is used to treat dyslipidemia, among other cardiovascular and metabolic-related diseases. BBR has historically been regarded as having multiple benefits, with a few clinical trials indicating this fact. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar with the following keywords: Berberidaceae, berberine, Berberis spp., dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and inflammation. We synthesized the information within the literature to provide an updated review of BBR, its potential, and its applicability in real-world medicine in the future. This review sought to evaluate the literature and advancement in BBR's efficacy regarding dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; berberidaceae; berberine; berberis spp; dyslipidemia; inflammation.

Publication types

Review