Open AccessBerberine: A Comprehensive Review on its Isolation, Biosynthesis, Chemistry and Pharmacology
Author(s) -
Farak Ali,
Shahnaz Alom,
Kamaruz Zaman
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of chemistry/asian journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 0975-427X
pISSN - 0970-7077
DOI - 10.14233/ajchem.2021.23365
Subject(s) - berberine , isoquinoline , chemistry , pharmacology , phytochemical , jatrorrhizine , traditional medicine , biochemistry , palmatine , stereochemistry , medicine
The isoquinoline compounds from alkaloidal class have been excellent source of importantphytoconstituents having wide range of pharmacological activities. Berberine is a protoberberinealkaloidal compound obtained from Berberis genus plants which belongs to family Barberidaceae.Due to its unique structural properties, berberine and its derivatives has been exploited extensively forits potential uses in various pharmacological targets such as cancer, inflammation, diabetes,gastrointestinal disorder, viral and microbial infections, neurological disorder like Alzheimer, anxiety,schizophrenia, depression, etc. This review illustrates the updated information on berberine with respectto its isolation, biosynthesis, chemical synthesis, structural modification and pharmacological activities.An extensive literature search were carried out in various search engine like PubMed, Google Scholars,Research Gate and SCOPUS by using keywords like Berberine, protoberberine alkaloids, isoquinolinederivatives, pharmacological effects, etc. Prephenic acid is the starting material for biosynthesis ofberberine. Structural modifications lead to generation of various potential derivatives, which earnpatents by researchers. Besides toxicities, the complications of low solubility and bioavailability shouldbe eliminated. To improve its safety, efficacy and selectivity the berberine should be carefully derivatized.