Berberine is a botanical compound found in plants including barberry, goldenseal, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric. Used in Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal practices for hundreds of years, berberine's diverse mechanisms of action are also supported in modern research.
Its primary mechanism is its ability to activate the enzyme Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), a central regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, while inhibiting Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a negative regulator of the leptin and insulin signaling pathways.