Neuropharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of berberine: a review of recent research.
OBJECTIVE
This review summarizes recent research on the neuropharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Coptidis rhizoma.


RESULTS
Berberine has multiple neuropharmacological properties, such as neuroprection, anti-neuronal apoptosis, improvement of cerebral microcirculation and anti-Alzheimer's disease, and so on. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of berberine are that it is not easily absorbed and it is not stable in the gastrointestinal tract of animals or humans.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies need to be carried out to develop berberine as a drug for nervous system diseases, such as brain ischaemia and Alzheimer's disease, that has favorable pharmacokinetic properties.
Ye
Minzhong
M
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
Fu
Sheng
S
Pi
Rongbiao
R
He
Feng
F
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001599:Berberine