Berberine from Medicinal Plants as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Pharmacological Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose and lipid metabolism. Increasing interest in natural therapeutic agents has highlighted berberine, a bioactive is quinoline alkaloid found in several medicinal plants, because of its potential antidiabetic and metabolic effects. Objective: This review aims to evaluate the potential of berberine derived from medicinal plants as a therapeutic agent for T2DM, focusing on its pharmacological mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and safety. Methods: Relevant experimental studies randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were reviewed, with emphasis on the effects of berberine on glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and related molecular pathways, Results: Evidence suggests that berberine exerts multiple antidiabetic effects through mechanisms including activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), improvement of insulin signaling, inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, enhancement of glucose uptake, and regulation of lipid metabolism. Conclusion: Berberine appears to be a promising natural therapeutic candidate for T2DM due to its diverse pharmacological actions and potential benefits in glycemic and metabolic control. However, further high-quality, long-term clinical trials are needed to establish optimal dosage, formulation, efficacy, and long-term safety.