A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology reported that berberine, a phytochemical from goldenseal, reduced inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Inflammation is involved quite heavily in the early stages of blood vessel disruptions and can lead to plaque and eventual acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term referring to the sudden blockage of blood flow to the heart which is considered a medical emergency.
Berberine is natural phytochemical found in several plants including goldenseal reported to have many health benefits including reducing high cholesterol, anti-bacterial properties, controlling blood sugar in diabetes. In the last several years berberine has become a popular dietary supplement due to several studies suggesting health promoting effects.
This clinical trial enrolled 130 human subjects with ACS gave 61 human subjects a traditional Chinese medicine containing berberine to determine if markers of inflammation were. Patients received a product containing 300 mg of berberine three times daily (i.e. daily dose of 900 mg per day) for 30 days. A significant reduction in markers of inflammation MMP-9, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, CRP, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were reduced after 30 days of berberine. Reductions in LDL cholesterol (i.e. bad cholesterol) were observed during the study with berberine.
Take away message: These promising results suggest that markers of inflammation in patients at risk of or diagnosed with ACS may be reduced with berberine which can be found in the plant goldenseal. These results suggest that berberine taken daily at 900 mg per day, which is about two capsules, was able to reduce signals involved in inflammation.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacololgy and Physiology. 2012 May; Volume 39 (Issue 5):Pages 406-11.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Cholesterol, Clinical Trials, Heart, Inflammation