Abstract
Background:
Berberine (BBR), an alkaloidal compound found in many plants, is widely
used for hundreds of years in the traditional system of Chinese medicine.
Objective/Aim:
The present review is aimed to summarize the potential of Berberine in the
amelioration of various neurological disorders.
Methods:
The collection of data for the compilation of this review work was searched in PubMed
Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Of late, researchers are more focused on its beneficial
role in neurodegenerative diseases.
Result:
BBR has proven its protective role in numerous neurotoxicity models including,
oxygen-glucose deprivation, mercury-induced, neurodegenerative model by ibotenic acid, and
hypoxia caused by COCl2. BBR treatment averts the generation of reactive oxygen species in the
oxygen-glucose deprivation model. Further, it subdues cytochrome c along with the divulge of
apoptosis-inducing factors that indicate its beneficial action in the management of stroke. BBR
diminished hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal damage by enhancing the PI3k / Akt / Nrf-2
based pathway and showed a preventive impact on neurites of SH-SY5Y cells by averting the
formation of ROS and inhibiting apoptosis. The impact of BBR on neurological disorder using a
transgenic AD type mouse strain (TgCRND8) showed a reduction in the piling up of amyloid-β
plaque. In mice, administration of BBR in the dose range of 5-10m/kg has been reported to raise
the levels of serotonin (47%), dopamine (31%), and norepinephrine (29%) in CNS to allay
depression.
Conclusion:
The present review is aimed to summarize the potential of Berberine in the
amelioration of various neurological disorders.