Frontiers in Pharmacology (May 2022)

Current Evidence and Future Directions of Berberine Intervention in Depression

  • Wen-Qian Zhu,
  • Hui-Ying Wu,
  • Zhi-Hui Sun,
  • Yi Guo,
  • Tong-Tong Ge,
  • Bing-Jin Li,
  • Xin Li,
  • Ran-Ji Cui

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.824420
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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A major type of serious mood disorder, depression is currently a widespread and easily overlooked psychological illness. With the low side effects of natural products in the treatment of diseases becoming the pursuit of new antidepressants, natural Chinese medicine products have been paid more and more attention for their unique efficacy in improving depression. In a view from the current study, the positive antidepressant effects of berberine are encouraging. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to accurately elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of berberine in depression. In this review, the relevant literature reports on the treatment of depression and anxiety by berberine are updated, and the potential pharmacological mechanism of berberine in relieving depression has also been discussed.

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