Berberine (chloride)

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has been found in C. fenestratum and has diverse biological activities.{57563,25000,37022,49318,12390} It induces frameshift mutations and gene crossovers in haploid and diploid strains of S. cerevisiae in the exponential growth phase, respectively, when used at a concentration of 50 µg/ml.{25000} Berberine is active against the S. aureus strains ATCC 25922 and NCTC 8530 (MIC = 250 µg/ml for both).{37022} It decreases contusion volume, ventricle enlargement, and neurological deficits in a mouse model of controlled cortical impact-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) when administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg.{49318} Berberine (50 mg/kg) reduces serum LDL cholesterol levels in hamsters fed a high-fat high-cholesterol diet.{12390}