Berberine Is a Promising Alkaloid to Attenuate Iron Toxicity Efficiently in Iron-Overloaded Mice 2022

[Bolt_Upright]

Update 6/29/22: Berberine may be neurotoxic. It is off of my stack: healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

=========Berberine Is a Promising Alkaloid to Attenuate Iron Toxicity Efficiently in Iron-Overloaded Mice journals.sagepub.com/doi/fu...

See the last line: "Accordingly, berberine, as a natural antioxidant compound, could adequately serve as a substitute for chemical chelators with fewer side effects and comparable effectiveness"

"Iron toxicity in iron-overloaded conditions, including high iron diet and blood transfusion, causes deleterious effects on vital organs. There currently are a number of chemical chelators in clinics to reduce iron concentration, for example, deferoxamine and deferiprone, but these produce diverse side effects. Hence, the need for a safe and effective iron chelator is demanded. To evaluate rigorously the potential of berberine on iron chelation and its anti-oxidant effect, 30 mice were divided into 5 groups of 6. Except for the control group, other groups received iron sucrose 5 times a week for 4 successive weeks as an i.p injection. Afterward, either berberine or deferoxamine was injected for 1 month. The mice were then euthanized and liver, kidney and lungs were carefully removed for biochemical and pathological analysis. In comparison with the iron group with an extraordinary amount of iron deposits, berberine (20 mg/kg/day) dramatically reduced iron sedimentation in all tissues (P < 0.01). Moreover, berberine lowered clinical symptoms of iron overdose, including inflammation, fibrosis and tissue degeneration. In terms of the activity of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase, iron overdose greatly reduced their activity compared to the control group. Berberine progressively increased their activity in comparison with the controls by lowering oxidative conditions (P < 0.05). Iron overdose similarly increased lipid peroxidation by increasing the level of malondialdehyde. Berberine promptly suppressed lipid peroxidation in an efficient manner and reduced the level of malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation in the tissues. Accordingly, berberine, as a natural antioxidant compound, could adequately serve as a substitute for chemical chelators with fewer side effects and comparable effectiveness."

[MBAnderson]

Good one.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to MBAnderson]

Good for the gut, chelates iron. Seems like a good supplement.

[Hidden]

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

Demethylenetetrahydroberberine protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Would taking Berberine and Fisetin cause too much autophagy? Or is that the least of our concerns? And is taking Berberine intermittently best like taking higher dose Fisetin (hit and run) but for just a week every month or two?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Hidden]

I don't know if Berberine and Fisetin are too much. I am trying to keep a cap on my supplements.

I keep hearing people say you need breaks from Berberine, but have been unable to find a reputable source stating this.

[condor39]

Thanks, Bolt Upright, for finding that article. I tried to get my specialists to be interested in my high ferritin level, but it was not considered important. You have given me some more ammunition. I don't think it has been shown that lowering the Ferritin will remove iron from the brain? But there will be no harm in trying. I got my Ferritin down from 1000 to 400, by bloodletting, but I will add Berberine and see what happens over the next month or two.

I will let you know, but thanks for the info.

[hamblewoman in reply to condor39]

Just curious - what was the impact after taking Berberine for a while on your Ferritin?

[Condor13]

I have been on Berberine for a week, with no side effects, or any effects, and have a baseline ferritin level. After four weeks I will check the Ferritin level, and report the result. Reading up about Berberine, there are claims that it cures everything, which makes me suspicious.

[hamblewoman in reply to Condor13]

Just curious - what was the impact after taking Berberine for a while on your Ferritin?