Berberine berberine supplement berberine supplier berberine manufacturer berberine bulk sale
Active ingredients: Berberine
Detection method: HPLC, NMR
Extraction solvent: Ethanol/Ethyl Acetate/water
Appearance: yellow or orange-yellow powder
Wholesale packaging: 25 kg/barrel
Expiration period: 2 years
- Herbfields Berberine Extract Specification:
Berberine is a natural plant alkaloid, and its medicinal value and research history can be traced back thousands of years. In the traditional Chinese medicine system, berberine is the main active ingredient of Chinese herbal medicines such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron chinense. It is widely used to treat various diseases.
As early as 2700 BC, the ancient Chinese medical classic "Shennong's Herbal Classic" recorded the medicinal value of Coptis chinensis, believing that it has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, drying dampness, and stopping diarrhea. Subsequently, in works such as "Shennong's Herbal Classic" in the Han Dynasty and "Compendium of Materia Medica" in the Tang Dynasty, the medicinal properties of Coptis chinensis were recorded and summarized in more detail. These ancient Chinese medical books laid an important foundation for the pharmacological research of berberine.
Entering the 20th century, with the development of modern chemistry and pharmacology, people began to systematically study the chemical structure and biological activity of berberine. In 1903, the German chemist Gadamer first isolated and identified the compound berberine from Coptis chinensis. In the following decades, scientists have continuously optimized the extraction process of berberine through various chemical separation methods and conducted in-depth research on its chemical structure.
Since the 1950s, the pharmacological activity of berberine has been gradually revealed. Studies have found that berberine not only has a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect, but also shows good therapeutic effects in anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and liver protection. These findings have greatly promoted the application research of berberine in the medical field.
Entering the 21st century, with the rapid development of biotechnology, the research on berberine has entered a new stage. Scientists have begun to pay attention to new drug administration routes and delivery systems for berberine to improve its bioavailability and therapeutic effects. At the same time, the molecular mechanism of action of berberine has also been deeply explored, laying the foundation for the further development of new berberine derivatives and compound preparations.
In general, the wide application of berberine in traditional Chinese medicine practice for thousands of years has provided a rich clinical basis for its modern pharmacological research. With the continuous progress of science and technology, the research on berberine has been continuously deepened, and its important role in preventing and treating various diseases has become increasingly prominent. In the future, berberine and its related preparations will surely play a more important role in the medical and health industry.
- Source of raw materials
Berberine, as a natural plant alkaloid, is mainly derived from Chinese medicinal materials such as Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. These plants are widely distributed in Asia, especially in southern and southwestern China.
- Coptis chinensis: Coptis chinensis is one of the main sources of berberine. Coptis chinensis is the dried rhizome of a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Coptis in the Ranunculaceae family. It is native to China and is mainly distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other regions. Coptis chinensis has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, drying dampness, and relieving pain. It is widely used in clinical Chinese medicine and is one of the "Four Great King Kongs" of Chinese medicine. Coptis chinensis is rich in berberine and is an important natural source for extracting and studying berberine.
- Phellodendron: Phellodendron is another important plant source of berberine. Phellodendron is the dried bark of a deciduous tree of the genus Phellodendron in the Rutaceae family, mainly produced in Northeast China, North China, and Southwest China. Phellodendron has the effects of clearing away heat and dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying, and is widely used in the treatment of various febrile diseases in clinical Chinese medicine.
- Honeysuckle: Honeysuckle also contains a certain amount of berberine. Honeysuckle is the dried buds and inflorescences of the honeysuckle plant of the Caprifoliaceae family, mainly produced in North China, East China, and Southwest China. Honeysuckle has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and antipruritic, and is often used in the treatment of febrile infectious diseases in clinical Chinese medicine.
In addition to the above three main sources, some other plants also contain berberine, such as Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex and Berberis Amurensis. Although the content of these plants is relatively low, they can still be used as a supplementary source of berberine.
China is the main production area of berberine and has rich natural resources. With the wide application of berberine in the medical field, the demand for its raw material plants is also increasing. Therefore, strengthening the research and innovation of the planting, harvesting, and processing technologies of these Chinese medicinal materials is crucial to meet the market demand for berberine.
Berberine is a tetracyclic isoquinoline alkaloid with a chemical name of 5,6-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrobenzo[g]isoquinoline hydrochloride. Its molecular formula is C20H18ClNO4 and its molecular weight is 371.81.
The chemical structure of berberine is shown in the figure below:
- Berberine chemical structure
Berberine is a tetracyclic isoquinoline alkaloid, with the chemical name 5,6-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrobenzo[g]isoquinoline hydrochloride. Its molecular formula is C20H18ClNO4, and its molecular weight is 371.81.
The chemical structure of berberine is shown in the figure below:
Berberine chemical structure
From the molecular structure, it can be seen that berberine consists of an isoquinoline ring system and two methoxy substituents. This special structure gives berberine unique physical and chemical properties and biological activity.
- Physical and chemical properties: Berberine is a yellow crystalline powder, odorless and bitter. Its melting point is 145-148℃. Berberine is easily soluble in organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and chloroform, but has a low solubility in water. Berberine is weakly alkaline and easily forms salts under acidic conditions.
- Optical properties: Berberine is an optically active substance with optical rotation. Its specific optical rotation in methanol solution is [α]D20=-31.5°. This optical activity is related to the chiral carbon atoms in its molecular structure.
- Spectral properties: Berberine has characteristic absorption peaks in the ultraviolet-visible region, with two strong absorption peaks near wavelengths of 265nm and 345nm. This characteristic absorption spectrum can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of berberine. In addition, the nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrum and carbon spectrum of berberine also have obvious characteristic peaks, which can be used for structural identification.
- Chemical reactivity: Berberine, as a tetracyclic isoquinoline alkaloid containing two methoxy groups, has certain chemical reactivity. Under acidic conditions, berberine is prone to protonation to form a stable cation; under alkaline conditions, the methoxy group may undergo hydrolysis.
In addition, the isoquinoline ring of berberine may also participate in some nucleophilic substitution reactions. These chemical properties provide possibilities for the synthesis and structural modification of berberine derivatives.
The unique chemical structure of berberine determines its special physical and chemical properties. These properties not only provide a basis for the separation, purification, and quantitative analysis of berberine but also lay the foundation for its further structural modification and new drug development. With the continuous development of science and technology, people's understanding of the chemical structure of berberine will surely be more in-depth, thus opening up new possibilities for its application in the field of medicine.
- Pharmacological effects of berberine
Berberine, as an important natural alkaloid, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities in modern medicine. A large number of experimental and clinical studies have confirmed that berberine has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective and other pharmacological effects, and plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
- Antibacterial effect: Berberine has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and can inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms. Research has found that berberine can exert an antibacterial effect by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis, DNA replication and other processes. In addition, berberine can enhance the body's immune function and improve the body's resistance to infection. Therefore, berberine has good application prospects in the treatment of bacterial, fungal and viral infectious diseases.
- Anti-inflammatory effect: Berberine also shows significant pharmacological activity in anti-inflammatory. Research shows that berberine can inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin and leukotriene, and reduce the release of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects. At the same time, berberine can also inhibit the chemotaxis and infiltration of leukocytes and reduce the inflammatory response of tissues. These mechanisms of action make berberine widely used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and enteritis.
- Hypoglycemic effect: Berberine also shows good efficacy in regulating sugar metabolism. Studies have found that berberine can regulate insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism through multiple mechanisms, thereby exerting a hypoglycemic effect. For example, berberine can enhance the responsiveness of the liver and muscles to insulin and promote the utilization of glucose; at the same time, berberine can also inhibit gluconeogenesis in the liver and reduce the release of glycogen. These mechanisms of action make berberine a potential new drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
- Hepatoprotective effect: Berberine also shows significant pharmacological activity in liver protection. Research shows that berberine can inhibit liver cell apoptosis and reduce liver cell damage; at the same time, berberine can also promote liver cell regeneration and improve the liver's detoxification and metabolism function. In addition, berberine also has antioxidant and inhibitory effects on inflammatory reactions, and can effectively prevent and treat various liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, fatty liver, liver fibrosis, etc.
- Anti-tumor effect: In recent years, research on berberine’s anti-tumor effects has also made important progress. A large number of studies have confirmed that berberine can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of various tumor cells and induce tumor cell apoptosis. Its mechanism of action includes: inhibiting DNA replication and protein synthesis of tumor cells, hindering the formation of tumor blood vessels, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, etc. These effects make berberine a potential anti-tumor drug, showing good application prospects in the treatment of lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and other malignant tumors.
- Other effects: In addition to the above-mentioned main pharmacological effects, berberine also exhibits other valuable biological activities, such as improving nervous system function, regulating immune response, inhibiting cardiovascular diseases, etc. In-depth research on these mechanisms of action will surely further expand the application scope of berberine in the medical field.
Berberine, as a natural plant alkaloid, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities in modern medicine. Its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective effects make it a multifunctional drug with great potential. With the continuous in-depth exploration of the mechanism of action of berberine, it will surely open up new prospects for its application in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
- Clinical applications of berberine
Based on the wide range of pharmacological activities of berberine, its application in clinical medicine is becoming increasingly widespread. At present, berberine and its preparations have been widely used in the treatment of infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, hepatobiliary diseases, tumors, and other fields.
- Infectious diseases: Berberine has broad-spectrum antibacterial effects and has shown good efficacy in the treatment of bacterial, fungal, and viral infectious diseases. Clinically, berberine and its preparations are often used to treat intestinal infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, etc. Research has found that berberine can effectively inhibit the growth of common pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and plays an important role in the treatment of enteritis, pneumonia, and other diseases. In addition, berberine can also inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, etc., and also shows good efficacy in the treatment of related viral infections.
- Metabolic diseases: Berberine’s role in regulating glucose metabolism makes it effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Clinical studies have found that berberine can effectively improve patients' insulin resistance, lower blood sugar levels, and delay the occurrence of complications. At the same time, berberine also has the functions of protecting the liver and improving lipid metabolism and also plays an important role in preventing and treating liver disease and cardiovascular disease caused by diabetes. In addition, berberine may also play a role in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia.
- Hepatobiliary Diseases: Berberine’s role in liver protection and repair makes it an important drug in the treatment of various hepatobiliary diseases. Clinically, berberine and its preparations are widely used in the treatment of liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, fatty liver, and liver fibrosis. Studies have shown that berberine can effectively improve patients' liver function indicators, inhibit liver cell damage and inflammatory reactions, and promote liver cell regeneration, thereby achieving the purpose of treatment. In addition, berberine may also play a role in the treatment of biliary tract diseases such as cholelithiasis and cholestasis.
- Oncological diseases: Berberine has also received increasing attention for its anti-tumor potential. Currently, berberine and its derivatives are being used to treat various malignant tumors such as lung cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer. Clinical studies have shown that berberine can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells, induce tumor cell apoptosis, and play an important role in improving patient survival rate and quality of life. In addition, berberine may also enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, showing broad application prospects in the comprehensive treatment of tumors.
- Other diseases: In addition to the main application fields mentioned above, berberine also shows certain clinical value in neurological diseases, immune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Studies have found that berberine can improve cognitive function, has anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, and has application prospects in the auxiliary treatment of neurological diseases. At the same time, berberine may also play a role in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
- Safety evaluation of berberine
Although berberine has a wide range of pharmacological activities and clinical application value, its safety evaluation is also an issue that needs to be focused on. At present, the safety research on berberine mainly focuses on the following aspects:
- Acute toxicity: A large number of studies have shown that berberine has certain acute toxicity. Animal experiments show that the LD50 value of berberine is between 50-500 mg/kg, which belongs to the category of moderate toxicity. Overdose of berberine may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, etc. In severe cases, nervous system inhibition and cardiovascular dysfunction may occur. Therefore, the dosage needs to be strictly controlled in clinical application to avoid acute poisoning.
- Chronic toxicity: Regarding the chronic toxicity of berberine, the current research results are not perfect. Some animal experiments show that long-term high-dose use of berberine may cause certain damage to liver and kidney function. However, the safety of long-term use of small-dose berberine preparations in clinical practice is good, and no obvious toxic side effects are observed. Therefore, the dosage and course of treatment should be reasonably controlled in clinical applications to reduce the risk of chronic toxicity.
- Reproductive toxicity and teratogenicity: Studies have shown that berberine may have certain reproductive toxicity and teratogenicity. Animal experiments have found that high doses of berberine may affect reproductive function and increase the risk of fetal malformations. Therefore, pregnant women and lactating women should use berberine preparations with caution and should use the medicine under the guidance of a doctor if necessary.
- Allergic reactions: A small number of patients may have allergic reactions to berberine, manifested as rash, itching, and other symptoms. This may be related to the chemical structure and metabolites of berberine. For patients with a history of allergies, berberine preparations should be used with caution, and skin tests and other measures may be taken if necessary.
- Drug interactions: Berberine may interact with certain drugs. Studies have found that berberine may affect the activity of liver and kidney metabolic enzymes, thereby changing the metabolism and clearance of other drugs, resulting in abnormal increases or decreases in drug concentrations. Therefore, in clinical applications, attention should be paid to the interaction between berberine and other drugs, and the medication regimen needs to be adjusted if necessary.
- Quality control: In addition to safety evaluation, quality control of berberine is also an important issue. Since berberine is derived from natural plants, its chemical composition and content may be affected by many factors, such as plant varieties, growth environment, harvest time, etc. Therefore, a strict quality control system needs to be established during the extraction and preparation production of berberine to ensure the quality stability, and consistency of the product.
- The main quality control measures include:
- Quality control of raw materials: Strictly test the physical and chemical properties, content, impurities, etc. of berberine raw materials to ensure compliance with relevant pharmacopeia standards.
- Quality control of preparation production: During the preparation production process, the quality of key process parameters, intermediate products, and final products is monitored throughout the process to ensure stable and reliable product quality.
- Stability study: Carry out accelerated and long-term stability tests of berberine preparations to evaluate the changes in its physical and chemical properties, content, etc. under different storage conditions, and provide a basis for setting the shelf life of the product.
- Standardization study: Establish standardized analytical methods for berberine, such as HPLC, LC-MS, etc., for accurate determination of berberine content in raw materials and preparations, providing reliable analytical means for quality control.
- Production quality management: Strictly implement GMP specifications, establish a complete quality management system, and ensure that the entire production process of berberine preparations is under control.
Through the above series of quality control measures, the quality stability and consistency of berberine preparations can be ensured, providing a guarantee for safe and effective clinical application.
- Research progress and prospects of berberine
With the continuous in-depth exploration of the pharmacological mechanism of berberine and its extensive practice in clinical applications, the research progress of berberine in the field of medicine is also changing with each passing day. In the future, berberine and its derivatives will show greater development potential in the following aspects:
Development of new formulations In view of the low solubility and bioavailability of berberine, researchers are developing various new routes of administration and formulation forms, such as nanoformulations, solid dispersions, and sustained-release formulations, to improve the solubility, absorption, and targeting of berberine, thereby enhancing its clinical efficacy.
Synthesis and structural optimization of derivatives Through chemical modification, researchers are synthesizing a series of berberine derivatives and conducting systematic research on their structure-activity relationship, in order to develop new berberine drugs with better pharmacological activity and safety.
In-depth explanation of the mechanism of action Although the various pharmacological effects of berberine have been widely confirmed, its specific mechanism of action still needs to be further clarified. Future research will focus more on exploring the targets and signal pathways of berberine at the molecular level, providing a more in-depth theoretical basis for its clinical application.
New clinical application areas (continued) Potential applications in neurological diseases, immune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc. have also attracted widespread attention. Future research will further expand the clinical application value of berberine in these emerging fields.
Natural drug development As a natural plant alkaloid, berberine has unique advantages in its development and utilization. In the future, researchers will further explore and utilize natural plant resources, develop more natural berberine compounds with medicinal value, and provide new ideas and directions for innovative drug research and development.
Industrialization and large-scale production With the widespread application of berberine in the medical field, its industrialization and large-scale production have also become an important topic. Researchers will focus on optimizing the extraction and separation process of berberine, improving product quality and production efficiency, and laying the foundation for large-scale production and market supply of berberine preparations.
International Cooperation and Exchange Berberine, as a natural medicine with broad application prospects, has attracted wide attention from the international medical community in its research and development. In the future, strengthening international cooperation and exchanges and sharing research results will help promote the clinical application and industrialization of berberine worldwide.
As a natural medicine with a long history and broad application prospects, Berberine is in a rapid development stage in its research and development. Through in-depth exploration of its mechanism of action, development of new preparations and derivatives, and expansion of clinical applications in emerging disease areas, it is believed that berberine will play a more important role in the future medical industry and make greater contributions to human health.
