Berberine interacts with gut microbiota and its potential therapy for polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Chinese medicinal plants showing a tight correlation with gut microbiota. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent reproductive and endocrine disorder syndrome among women of childbearing age. Dysbiosis, the imbalance of intestinal microorganisms, is a potential factor that takes part in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Recent evidence indicates that berberine offers promise for treating PCOS. Here, we review the recent research on the interaction between berberine and intestinal microorganisms, including the changes in the structure of gut bacteria, the intestinal metabolites after BBR treatment, and the effect of gut microbiota on the bioavailability of BBR. We also discuss the therapeutic effect of BBR on PCOS in terms of gut microbiota and its potential mechanisms.

The gut-liver axis in fatty liver disease: role played by natural products

“…Research indicates that BBR exhibits low absorption into the bloodstream, with a significant accumulation in the intestines where it exerts its pharmacological effects locally. BBR affects the gut-liver axis at several interrelated levels, including modulation of the gut microbiota structure, alteration of gut microbe-derived metabolites, etc., which reduces microbial exposure and the pro-inflammatory environment of the liver and modulates liver metabolism ( Peng et al, 2019 ; Dehau et al, 2023 ; Zhu and Li, 2023 ). Zhang et al (2015) collected feces from C57 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks and collected feces from non-alcoholic hepatitis model mice fed BBR (100 mg/kg body weight) for eight consecutive weeks and performed 16sRNA sequencing.…”