A review of biological effects of berberine and Croatian barberry (Berberis croatica Horvat) as a new source of berberine

Berberine is an alkaloid from the isoquinoline group of alkaloids, and it can be found in various Berberis spp., Coptis spp. and Hydrastis canadensis. As such, it is an important ingredient of many formulations of traditional Chinese medicine, and other traditional medicines. This review will focus on plant source of berberine, and on documented biological effects of berberine. Mechanism of bactericidal activity of berberine and inhibition of multiple-resistance pumps in bacteria in barberry species will be explained. In addition to antimicrobial activity, the review will concentrate on other biological activities of berberine such as hepatoprotective, glucose and cholesterol lowering, antiplatelet, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, aetylcholinesterase inhibitory as well as cytostatic/cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activity. Possible mechanisms for some of the abovementioned activities will be discussed. Furthermore, in search for phytochemical profile of Croatian barberry (Berberis croatica Horvat), which is an endemic illyric-balcanic species ; berberine was found as bioactive alkaloid in roots, twigs and leaves of wild-collected specimens. This is the first report of Croatian barberry as a new and a rich source of biologically active alkaloid berberine.