Molecular landscape of Berberine's therapeutic potential in gastrointestinal disorders

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.01.024

Abstract

Abstract:

Berberine, an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid, is a molecule with significant therapeutic adaptability. It has been identified, isolated, and measured in a wide range of plant families and species. Of these, Berberis stands out as a significant natural source of berberine, with Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris) bark being one of the most notable. The numerous health benefits associated with berberine include its potential use in the treatment of diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurological disorders. The principal use of berberine has been for its antidiarrheal properties, which may have several modes of action. Its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are responsible for its preventive action against stomach ulcers, and it has been found to kill dangerous gut bacteria while boosting the species and numbers of health-promoting bacteria. It protects the colon by influencing the production of several immune factors in addition to upregulating the Wnt-β creatinine signaling cascade. Berberine has shown its potential in regulating cholesterol metabolism by elevating the levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor in the liver. This review comprehensively examines the pharmacokinetics, multifaceted bioactivities, and gut-protective roles of berberine, providing a detailed analysis of its diverse physiological functions and potential clinical applications to advance the understanding and management of gastrointestinal diseases.

Key words: berberine, gastrointestinal tract, antineoplastic agents, anti-ulcer agents, review, natural compound

YANG Wu, LI Yinghui, LIAO Heng, XIONG Shangbin. Molecular landscape of Berberine's therapeutic potential in gastrointestinal disorders[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026, 46(1): 245-256.

Figures/Tables 5

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Common name	Scientific name	Plant part	Berberine concentration	Common location
Common Barberry	Berberis vulgaris	Root	Moderate	Europe, Asia, North Africa
Barberry	Berberis thunbergii	Root	Moderate	East Asia, Japan
Oregon Grape	Berberis aquifolium	Root Bark	Moderate	North America,
Barberry	Berberis asiatica	Bark	High	Asia
Barberry	Berberis croatica	Bark	High	Southeastern Europe, Balkans
Amur Cork Tree	Phellodendron amurense	Bark	Moderate to High	East Asia, China
Indian Barberry	Berberis aristata	Bark and Root	Moderate	Himalayan region, India
Yellowroot	Xanthorhiza simplicissima	Root	Moderate	Eastern United States
Goldthread	Coptis chinensis	Rhizomes	High	East Asia, China
Phellodendron	Phellodendron amurense	Bark	High	East Asia, China
Tree Turmeric	Berberis aristata	Root	Moderate	Himalayan region, India

Common name	Scientific name	Plant part	Berberine concentration	Common location
Common Barberry	Berberis vulgaris	Root	Moderate	Europe, Asia, North Africa
Barberry	Berberis thunbergii	Root	Moderate	East Asia, Japan
Oregon Grape	Berberis aquifolium	Root Bark	Moderate	North America,
Barberry	Berberis asiatica	Bark	High	Asia
Barberry	Berberis croatica	Bark	High	Southeastern Europe, Balkans
Amur Cork Tree	Phellodendron amurense	Bark	Moderate to High	East Asia, China
Indian Barberry	Berberis aristata	Bark and Root	Moderate	Himalayan region, India
Yellowroot	Xanthorhiza simplicissima	Root	Moderate	Eastern United States
Goldthread	Coptis chinensis	Rhizomes	High	East Asia, China
Phellodendron	Phellodendron amurense	Bark	High	East Asia, China
Tree Turmeric	Berberis aristata	Root	Moderate	Himalayan region, India

Pathway	Effect of berberine	Mechanism	Reference
MAPK/ERK	Alleviation of MAPK signaling pathway	Suppression of growth and metastasis by reducing MAPK/ERK activity	80
AMPK	Induce AMPK activation	Decrease cancer cell proliferation	87
PI3K/AKT/mTOR	Inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway	significantly repressed cell migration and invasion	71
Wnt/β-catenin	inhibit β-catenin/Wnt signaling	Inhibition of β-catenin transcriptional activity	83
EGF/EGFR	Downregulation of the EGF/EGFR pathway	decreased cell proliferation and expression levels of EGFR	85
JAK/STAT	Inhibit activation of STAT3 signaling pathway	Inhibit phosphorylation of STAT3/STAT5 reduce mRNA levels of STAT3	118
Cell cycle arrest	Reduce levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin B2	G1 and G2 phase arrest	75
NF-κB	Inhibition of NF-κB activation	Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, ILs, TNF-α	76
Apoptosis	Induction of apoptosis	Increasing the levels of caspase 3 and 9 decreases the level of Bcl2	119

Pathway	Effect of berberine	Mechanism	Reference
MAPK/ERK	Alleviation of MAPK signaling pathway	Suppression of growth and metastasis by reducing MAPK/ERK activity	80
AMPK	Induce AMPK activation	Decrease cancer cell proliferation	87
PI3K/AKT/mTOR	Inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway	significantly repressed cell migration and invasion	71
Wnt/β-catenin	inhibit β-catenin/Wnt signaling	Inhibition of β-catenin transcriptional activity	83
EGF/EGFR	Downregulation of the EGF/EGFR pathway	decreased cell proliferation and expression levels of EGFR	85
JAK/STAT	Inhibit activation of STAT3 signaling pathway	Inhibit phosphorylation of STAT3/STAT5 reduce mRNA levels of STAT3	118
Cell cycle arrest	Reduce levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin B2	G1 and G2 phase arrest	75
NF-κB	Inhibition of NF-κB activation	Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, ILs, TNF-α	76
Apoptosis	Induction of apoptosis	Increasing the levels of caspase 3 and 9 decreases the level of Bcl2	119

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