Advances in structural modifications and biological activities of berberine: an active compound in traditional Chinese medicine

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2011 Nov;11(13):1122-9. doi: 10.2174/138955711797655362.

Abstract

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Chinese herbs such as Coptidis Rhizome. This paper is a systematic review of the structural modifications of berberine for different biological activities such as antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-Alzheimer's disease, antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory and antimalaria. The current review would provide some useful information for further studies on structural modification of berberine for discovering new drug leads.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Berberine / chemistry*
  • Berberine / pharmacology*
  • Coptis chinensis
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy
  • Drug Discovery* / methods
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Mycoses / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antimalarials
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Berberine
  • Coptidis rhizoma extract