Berberine is found in the roots and bark of several plants, including goldenseal.
A TRADITIONAL Chinese medicine said to help patients with diabetes has been given the backing of scientists.
The natural plant product known as berberine has been documented in Chinese literature as having a blood sugar lowering effect in people with type 2 diabetes, but it was not known why it has this effect, writes Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent in THE SCOTSMAN of August 1, 2006.
Now an international team from China, Korea and Australia has demonstrated how berberine helps diabetics. In tests on animals, the researchers from the Garvan Institute in Sydney found berberine was interacting with the body chemistry.
They believe the product could be a valuable new treatment, especially where traditional drugs fail, though it would need to undergo properly evaluated clinical trials before entering widespread use.
Berberine is found in the roots and bark of several plants, such as goldenseal and barberry. It is commonly used for treatments to tackle diarrhoea and to promote wound healing.
Dr Jiming Ye said: "Our studies in animal models of diabetes show that berberine acts in part by activating an enzyme in the muscle and liver that is involved in improving sensitivity of the tissue to insulin. This helps lower blood sugar levels. it seems berberine can also help reduce body weight."
In the UK more than two million people suffer from diabetes, and an estimated one million are unaware the have the condition. More than 75 per cent of people with diabetes have type2 which is linked to being overweight.
The Australian researchers said there were already medicines to help treat type 2 diabetes, but these could have side-effects or cause weight gain.
Professor David James, the head of Garvan's diabetes and obesity research programme, said: "Berberine has been used for decades, if not centuries, with few reported side-effects.
"Given the limitations of existing medicines we are excited to have evidence that berberine may be a helpful new treatment for type 2 diabetes."
Cathy Moulton, of the charity Diabetes UK, said: "It is certainly an interesting study and throws up a number of questions. It warrants further investigation and research to see how it could effectively be used in the wider treatment of diabetes."
Tom Williams, a Chinese medicine practitioner in Glasgow, said he believed that Chinese approaches were effective in treating diabetics. "In terms of treating the condition, there is no question that Chinese medicine with acupuncture and herbs can be helpful," he said.
By Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent
The Scotsman
Comment:
Cardiovascular actions of berberine.
Lau CW, Yao XQ, Chen ZY, Ko WH, Huang Y.
Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
Berberine, is an alkaloid from Hydrastis canadensis L., Chinese herb Huanglian, and many other plants. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antimicrobial in the treatment of dysentery and infectious diarrhea. This manuscript describes cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives, tetrahydroberberine and 8-oxoberberine. Berberine has positive inotropic, negative chronotropic, antiarrhythmic, and vasodilator properties. Both derivatives of berberine have antiarrhythmic activity. Some cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives are attributed to the blockade of K+ channels (delayed rectifier and K(ATP)) and stimulation of Na+ -Ca(2+) exchanger. Berberine has been shown to prolong the duration of ventricular action potential. Its vasodilator activity has been attributed to multiple cellular mechanisms. The cardiovascular effects of berberine suggest its possible clinical usefulness in the treatment of arrhythmias and/or heart failure.
August 1, 2006
CHINA: Chinese Tonic Helps to Control Type 2 Diabetes
Berberine is found in the roots and bark of several plants, including goldenseal.
A TRADITIONAL Chinese medicine said to help patients with diabetes has been given the backing of scientists.
The natural plant product known as berberine has been documented in Chinese literature as having a blood sugar lowering effect in people with type 2 diabetes, but it was not known why it has this effect, writes Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent in THE SCOTSMAN of August 1, 2006.
Now an international team from China, Korea and Australia has demonstrated how berberine helps diabetics. In tests on animals, the researchers from the Garvan Institute in Sydney found berberine was interacting with the body chemistry.
They believe the product could be a valuable new treatment, especially where traditional drugs fail, though it would need to undergo properly evaluated clinical trials before entering widespread use.
Berberine is found in the roots and bark of several plants, such as goldenseal and barberry. It is commonly used for treatments to tackle diarrhoea and to promote wound healing.
Dr Jiming Ye said: "Our studies in animal models of diabetes show that berberine acts in part by activating an enzyme in the muscle and liver that is involved in improving sensitivity of the tissue to insulin. This helps lower blood sugar levels. it seems berberine can also help reduce body weight."
In the UK more than two million people suffer from diabetes, and an estimated one million are unaware the have the condition. More than 75 per cent of people with diabetes have type2 which is linked to being overweight.
The Australian researchers said there were already medicines to help treat type 2 diabetes, but these could have side-effects or cause weight gain.
Professor David James, the head of Garvan's diabetes and obesity research programme, said: "Berberine has been used for decades, if not centuries, with few reported side-effects.
"Given the limitations of existing medicines we are excited to have evidence that berberine may be a helpful new treatment for type 2 diabetes."
Cathy Moulton, of the charity Diabetes UK, said: "It is certainly an interesting study and throws up a number of questions. It warrants further investigation and research to see how it could effectively be used in the wider treatment of diabetes."
Tom Williams, a Chinese medicine practitioner in Glasgow, said he believed that Chinese approaches were effective in treating diabetics. "In terms of treating the condition, there is no question that Chinese medicine with acupuncture and herbs can be helpful," he said.
By Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent
The Scotsman
Comment:
Cardiovascular actions of berberine.
Lau CW, Yao XQ, Chen ZY, Ko WH, Huang Y.
Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
Berberine, is an alkaloid from Hydrastis canadensis L., Chinese herb Huanglian, and many other plants. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antimicrobial in the treatment of dysentery and infectious diarrhea. This manuscript describes cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives, tetrahydroberberine and 8-oxoberberine. Berberine has positive inotropic, negative chronotropic, antiarrhythmic, and vasodilator properties. Both derivatives of berberine have antiarrhythmic activity. Some cardiovascular effects of berberine and its derivatives are attributed to the blockade of K+ channels (delayed rectifier and K(ATP)) and stimulation of Na+ -Ca(2+) exchanger. Berberine has been shown to prolong the duration of ventricular action potential. Its vasodilator activity has been attributed to multiple cellular mechanisms. The cardiovascular effects of berberine suggest its possible clinical usefulness in the treatment of arrhythmias and/or heart failure.
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