Berberine as a multi-target therapeutic agent for obesity: from pharmacological mechanisms to clinical evidence

Jun 12, 2025European journal of medical research

Berberine’s potential to treat obesity by targeting multiple body systems, from how it works to clinical results

AI simplified

Abstract

Over 1.5 billion cases of obesity are projected globally by 2035.

  • Obesity is characterized by excessive fat accumulation that disrupts metabolic balance.
  • Newly approved medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) show effectiveness but are limited by gastrointestinal side effects.
  • Berberine (BBR), a natural compound, has multiple mechanisms that may aid in weight management, including promoting fat breakdown and reducing fat cell formation.
  • BBR can enhance the diversity of gut bacteria, which may improve metabolic health.
  • Certain metabolites of BBR may have effects similar to or stronger than the original compound.
  • BBR faces challenges in its use due to low absorption in the intestines and breakdown by the body before it can be effective.

AI simplified

Key numbers

23%
Triglyceride Reduction
Reduction in triglyceride levels among obese participants after supplementation.
12.2%
Total Cholesterol Reduction
Decrease in total cholesterol levels observed in obese participants following treatment.
< 1%
Bioavailability
Indicates the percentage of that is absorbed into the bloodstream after oral administration.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license. Use the link below to read it at the source.

what lands in your inbox each week:

  • 📚7 fresh studies
  • 📝plain-language summaries
  • direct links to original studies
  • 🏅top journal indicators
  • 📅weekly delivery
  • 🧘‍♂️always free