berberine

noun

ber·​ber·​ine ˈbər-bə-ˌrēn 

: a bitter crystalline yellow alkaloid C₂₀H₁₉NO₅ obtained from the roots of various plants (such as barberry) and used in medicine especially for its antimicrobial properties

Examples of berberine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ingredients in Kind’s GLP-1 Patches include berberine, pomegranate, and L-glutamine extract, all of which have been shown to aid in the production of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that regulates appetite. —Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2025

Red yeast rice, soluble fiber, plant sterols, and berberine have some of the strongest evidence. —Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 22 July 2025

One meta-analysis of 12 studies on berberine for weight loss found this plant compound helped people shed an average of about 4.5 pounds — not enough to be clinically meaningful for improving health, says Gilden. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 22 July 2025

Research has found that berberine may improve unhealthy gut microbiota. —Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Berberin, from New Latin berberis

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

berberine

noun

ber·​ber·​ine ˈbər-bə-ˌrēn 

: a bitter crystalline yellow alkaloid C₂₀H₁₉NO₅ obtained from the roots of various plants (as barberry) and used as a tonic and antiperiodic