 Common barberry Berberis vulgaris berries I hope the holiday season is treating you all well. This has been a subject consistently brought up by a number of people around me so finally I'm writing on it. I had a friend ask me about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and herbs that have been shown to help support healthy liver detox and regeneration (well, she didn't put it that way but that's what she needed to be looking for). While researching it I came across a topic of certain herbs high in alkaloids supporting healthy cholesterol levels. That intrigued me because I was already supposed to be working on a consultation of strategies to lower cholesterol through lifestyle changes and supplements (namely herbs) for another friend.  WARNING: Before using any herb always do your research on how it may affect you and any medications you may be on. Always seek advice from your doctor if you have concerns on contraindications of your medicine. If you end up ingesting something toxic or that will cause issues with your medicine please seek emergency medical help right away. What is an "alkaloid?" Star of Bethlehem Ornithogalum at the cottage. Herbs contain different chemical structures and here are just a few examples of the many of them:
Not all chemicals in the same group are equal in strength. Some take less to harm and others more - that's where that "medicinal margin" comes into play. That's why ingesting some apple seeds won't necessarily harm you quite like ingesting a similar amount of nightshade. Alklaloids: These are chemicals in plants that range from barely harmless to deadly. It's important that herbalists (and even those just dabbling in basic at-home herbalism) learn about the basic chemicals of the plants because (as you can see so far) each chemical has a purpose. You also want to make sure not to put two plants together in a formula that has chemicals that counteract and cause harm. Here are just a few of the benefits alkaloids can have on the body:
When I think of plants high in alkaloids I think of herbs like nightshade Solanum nigrum (tropane alkaloids), the poppy Papaver rhoeas (narcotic alkaloids - this plant contains opium which can then be made into morphine), the tobacco plant (nicotine alkaloid). You might not be aware of this but you might actually take an alkaloid daily! Are you a coffee or a green/black tea drinker? Then you are taking in my favorite alkaloid: caffeine (xanthine alkaloid). According to Brittanica's website some animals have been found to contain alkaloids and listed the two examples as "New World beaver (Castor canadensis) and poison dart frogs (Phyllobates)". That makes sense considering what happens to you if you mess around with the frog. I remember seeing them up close while we were doing research in Costa Rica, they were beautiful. Now the beaver? Um that's news to me... Ok, notice how I said that plants container higher amounts of alkaloids tend to have a smaller medicinal margin (limited use) than most other plants that don't? Well there's a reason: the side effects may sometime outweigh the benefits so use with caution. Some side effects may include:
But not all alkaloids are the same...Like I had previously stated: this had all begun as a "research rabbit hole" that started as fatty liver disease and has stretched into lowering cholesterol. (Also: possible effects on osteoporosis treatment? More on that soon...) The chemical in question for this research is known as berberine (a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid). Here is a list of plants commonly used for their berberine alkaloid:
 Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis (Pixabay) Berberine is used in eastern medicine as an antidiabetic herb. Studies show that berberine may provide minor weight loss benefits, being a side affect of the main benefits: lowering lipids and reducing glucose levels. Berberine was also shown to increase calcitriol levels (over 59% increase!). After looking separately into calcitriol I found it to be a form of Vitamin D3, helping with bone health and regulation of hormones. Because of how calcitriol levels affect the body it leads me to consider berberine may have positive effects on those with hyperparathyroidism, kidney issues, and may improve bone health through regulation of calcium levels. It was shown to be possibly beneficial as a potential aid in treatment of osteoporosis. (I'll be doing further research on that for another friend.) While berberine was not shown to lower cortisol levels it still can help regulate hormones through increasing the calcitriol levels. It's well known that stress and hormone fluctuations can negatively affect weight and so it makes sense that there might be a correlation between hormone regulation, lowering cholesterol and blood sugar regulation resulting in that weight loss (no matter how minor) and that being a reason why berberine is heavily recommended for such purposes in eastern medicine. Berberine is generally considered a safe substance and you may decide to use a berberine supplement in your holistic regimen and possibly not experience any side effects. It's still important for me to list the possible side effects of berberine, whether they are brought on by overuse or sensitivity:
Also, if you are taking medications that are for the liver or glucose regulation you should check with your doctor if this herb is right for you or if it may contraindicate. So what is the best way to go about lowering your cholesterol?In truth, I'm sure you've heard it before: lifestyle changes are best for managing cholesterol. Fad diets and "miracle" supplements may have some affect but there's no real fix quite like getting down to the main factor which is almost always lifestyle habits. (Yes, I am aware there are conditions where this is not the case.)
If you're interested in adding an herbal/supplemental regimen to your new lifestyle changes be sure to give berberine some research to see if it may be right for you.  Sources:
Lin SX, Curtis MA, Sperry J. Pyridine alkaloids with activity in the central nervous system. Bioorg Med Chem. 2020 Dec 15;28(24):115820. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115820. Epub 2020 Oct 16. PMID: 33120080; PMCID: PMC7561606. Hu Y, Ehli EA, Kittelsrud J, Ronan PJ, Munger K, Downey T, Bohlen K, Callahan L, Munson V, Jahnke M, Marshall LL, Nelson K, Huizenga P, Hansen R, Soundy TJ, Davies GE. Lipid-lowering effect of berberine in human subjects and rats. Phytomedicine. 2012 Jul 15;19(10):861-7. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2012.05.009. Epub 2012 Jun 26. PMID: 22739410. Pizzorno J. Thinking About Berberine. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2023 Nov;22(5):6-8. PMID: 38144162; PMCID: PMC10734964. Hu Y, Ehli EA, Kittelsrud J, Ronan PJ, Munger K, Downey T, Bohlen K, Callahan L, Munson V, Jahnke M, Marshall LL, Nelson K, Huizenga P, Hansen R, Soundy TJ, Davies GE. Lipid-lowering effect of berberine in human subjects and rats. Phytomedicine. 2012 Jul 15;19(10):861-7. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2012.05.009. Epub 2012 Jun 26. PMID: 22739410
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Author: Tina PotterMaster Herbalist, I've graduated as an American Healthcare College Alumnus, I've become a member of American Herbalist Guild and author of survivalist series Survival Ember co-authored by professional survivalist Kenny Dietrich of Ashland, KY. I've been beyond blessed with the constant desire to learn and teach. COMMON SENSE NOTICE: I do not claim to diagnose, treat, or cure disease. What you do with the information I post is up to you, but it is advised to consult with a doctor before acting on alternative methods of medicine. I wish you all the best!
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