Berberine is a phytochemical present in a number of plants including Coptis chinensis. Berberine belongs to the alkaloid group of chemicals. Coptis chinensis is commonly called Chinese goldthread, and is a flowering plant native to China. Berberine is present mainly in the root of the Coptis chinensis plant. Evidence suggests that berberine may have particular anxiolytic effects in animals. For example, in one study, researchers administered berberine to mice and exposed the mice to stress in the form of a maze test. In response to the berberine, the mice were more prepared to enter lighter areas of the maze, suggesting that the alkaloid had produced an anxiolytic effect. Further, the brain levels of monoamine neurotransmitters noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin decreased in the mice, but concentrations of their breakdown products increased, suggesting a higher turnover of monoamine neurotransmitters. Berberine also decrease the anxiogenic effect of a number of known anxiogenic compounds.
Berberine is an alkaloid found in certain plants including the Coptis chinensis plant. Other plants containing berberine include Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Berberis aristata (tree turmeric), Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Eschscholzia californica (Californian poppy) and Xanthorhiza simplicissima (yellowroot). Berberine has a distinctive yellow colour, and is usually found in the roots of the plant. Image from: Image shows the chemical structure of berberine. Image from: By NEUROtiker – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/ w/ index.php?curid=3750091.
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