Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal 11(2) ISSN 2319-4979 Dec. 2020 242 www.viirj.org BERBERINE AND ITS RELEVANCE IN ANTI -DIABETIC ACTIVITY S.R.Gautam*, V.V Paithankar, J.V. Vyas and A.Wankhade Department of pharmacology, Vidyabharati College of Pharmacy, Amravati, MS, India *gautamshruti3@gmail.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Berberine has been the basis of many traditional medicines throughout the world for thousands of years and continues to provide new remedies to mankind. Berberine have many medicinal properties that have attracted the attention of researchers over the time. According to several studies, Berberine exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-Alzheimer, anti-cancer, anti-arrhythmic, antiviral, antibacterial and anti-diabetic effects in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Diabetes mellitus has appeared as a threat to public health all over the world in the last few decades. Berberine plays an important role in lowering the blood glucose level as that of metformine and rosiglintazone. This review provides a summary regarding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic features of berberine, with a focus on the aspect of antidiabetic activity. ________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Berberine , Berberis aristata, Pharmacology, anti -diabetic activity. Introduction Berberine is a plant alkaloid with a protracted history of medicinal use in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medication. It is present in Hydrastis Canadensis (goldenseal), Coptis chinensis (Coptis or goldenthread), Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape), Berberis vulgaris (barberry), and Berberis aristata (tree turmeric). The berberine alkaloid can be foundwithin the roots, rhizomes, and stem bark of the plants.. Berberine extracts and decoctions have incontestible important antimicrobial activity against a range of organisms as well as microorganism, viruses, fungi, protozoans, helminths, and chlamydia.(Chander, Aswal, Dobhal, & Uniyal, 2017) Berberine(5,6- dihydro-9,10-dimethoxybenzo[g]-1,3- benzodioxolo[5,6-a]quinolizinium) is a nonbasic and quaternary benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, a relevant molecule in medicine and medicative chemistry. Indeed, it's called as a very important natural alkaloid for the synthesis of several bioactive derivatives by means of condensation, modification, and substitution of functional groups in strategic positions for the design of new, selective, and powerful drugs. (Neag et al., 2018) Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids found in such plants as Berberis, such as Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Berberis aristata (tree turmeric). BBR has been used in the clinic for hyperlipidemia, diabetes, neuroprotective and cardiovascular diseases, suggesting its potential in future. BBR showed anti-hyperlipidemia effect of lowering total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low- density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels in patients. Besides hyperlipidemia, BBR has also been reported to be effective in anti- diabetes. In 1988, the hypoglycemic effect of berberine was firstly reported when berberine was prescribed to treat diarrhea in diabetic patients. Moreover, several clinical and preclinical studies demonstrate ameliorative effect of berberine against several disorders together with metabolic, neurological and cardiological problems. Numerous literatures had been published by various authors exploring the phytochemical and pharmaceutical aspects beside ancient uses nevertheless there's no way more literature regarding to date the importance of Berberine, that is very important constituent of this species. Berberine is understood as antidiabetic drug since long and may be tagged as ‘herbal metformin’. Berberis aristata Berberis aristata DC. (Berberidaceae) is one of the herbs mentioned in all ancient scriptures of Ayurveda, Charaka and Susruta have mentioned it’s different properties along with various used for the treatment of numerous illnesses. The genus Berberis represents the around 12 genera and 600 species worldwide and about 77 species have been reported from India. In Indian Himalayan ecosystem most of the species have reported from Nilgiri hills at 242-251