BERBERINE: A PROMISING PHYTOCHEMICAL WITH MULTIFUNCTIONAL PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Meetu, Jayamanti Pandit*

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid primarily isolated from various medicinal plants such as Berberis vulgaris, Coptis chinensis, and Hydrastis canadensis. It has been extensively used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to its diverse therapeutic potential. Phytochemically, berberine possesses a quaternary ammonium salt structure belonging to the protoberberine group of alkaloids, responsible for its strong yellow coloration and bioactivity. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that berberine exhibits wide-spectrum biological activities including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Its molecular mechanisms involve modulation of multiple signalling pathways such as AMPK activation, NF-KB inhibition, and regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis. Despite its promising pharmacological profile, berberine’s poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid metabolism limit its clinical translation. Recent nanotechnological approaches such as nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanoparticles, and solid lipid systems have been developed to enhance its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Future research should focus on optimizing delivery systems, exploring synergistic herbal combinations, understanding pharmacogenomic responses, and conducting more extensive clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy. Berberine thus represents a potent phytochemical with multifaceted pharmacological activities and immense potential for future drug development and clinical applications