Berberine: metabolic and cardiovascular effects in preclinical and clinical trials.

Berberine is a plant alkaloid with numerous biological activities. A large body of preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies support different pharmacological actions of berberine that could be potentially useful in the management of metabolic diseases associated to high cardiovascular disease risk, such as mixed hyperlipidaemia, insulin-resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, it seems that berberine exerts also antinflammatory and antiproliferative effects that could play a role in the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences. Recently, the metabolic effects of berberine have been demonstrated also in humans, opening new perspectives for the use of this molecule in patient therapy. Larger and longer clinical studies needs to be carried out to implement the definition of the therapeutic role of berberine in humans.