| Abstrakt: |
Berberine is a constituent in a variety of plants around the world. Berberine-containing plants are used to treat intestinal disorders in many traditions. This use was studied, and, subsequently, isolated berberine was found to be so effective for treating diarrhea that the substance was approved as an over-the-counter diarrheal remedy in China in the 1950s. This article reviews the research on use of berberine for treating congestive heart failure, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research suggests that berberine should be more widely used to address these conditions. Berberine is an inexpensive chemical, and virtually every culture has some exposure to berberine-containing plants used in traditional medicine. This wide usage and exposure suggests that berberine is a very safe compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
