Berberine is a natural compound found in various medicinal plants and can help alleviate vascular dysfunctions and lower blood pressure in cases of hypertension.
A Chinese research team has recently investigated the effect of berberine on high blood pressure. The promising results have been published in the journal “Microbiological Research”.
Hypertension and vascular dysfunction
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. As a result of high blood pressure, the structure and function of the arteries are increasingly damaged and vascular dysfunction can arise in a vicious circle of interactions, the researchers explain.
Vascular dysfunction is characterized by a reduced sensitivity to vasodilating factors and an increase in the stiffness of blood vessels. It is a decisive factor in the development of hypertension-related atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Influence of intestinal flora
Recent studies have also suggested a connection between the intestinal flora and high blood pressure. For example, it has been shown that the intestinal flora can cause resistance to medications and last year researchers were able to identify two strains of potentially blood pressure-lowering probiotics.
In addition, a connection has already been proven between a metabolite of the intestinal flora (trimethylamine-N-oxide, TMAO) and the risk of high blood pressure, the researchers explain.
Berberine to lower blood pressure?
In addition, a growing number of studies indicate that the herbal active ingredient berberine interacts directly with the intestinal flora, regulates its composition and metabolism and can thus contribute to the improvement of cardiovascular diseases.
However, it remains unclear whether and how berberine alleviates the vascular dysfunction caused by TMAO in high blood pressure, the experts continued.
Berberine lowers TMAO
Using 86 people with high blood pressure and 46 people with normal blood pressure, the researchers were now able to demonstrate that TMAO levels in the blood plasma and the associated bacterial frequency were significantly increased in people with high blood pressure and correlated with poorer vascular function.
In addition, experiments on mice have shown that taking berberine over a period of four weeks alleviated the vascular dysfunction caused by TMAO.
According to the researchers, subsequent trials with 15 people suffering from high blood pressure showed that treatment achieved a significant reduction in TMAO levels after just one month and an even more significant reduction from baseline levels after three months.
Oral treatment with berberine also improved vascular function and lowered blood pressure, the research team added.
Effect on the intestinal flora
When examining the stool samples, a change in the composition of the intestinal bacteria was also detected, and in vitro bacterial cultures and enzyme reaction systems showed that berberine inhibits the biosynthesis of the TMAO precursor in the intestinal flora, the team reports.
Overall, the study shows that TMAO plays a crucial role in vascular dysfunction and that berberine appears to be a suitable intervention strategy to lower TMAO levels in the blood.
The plant active ingredient apparently exerts its effect by regulating the intestinal flora and berberine appears to have potentially suitable clinical applications for the prevention and treatment of vascular dysfunction caused by high blood pressure, the researchers conclude. (fp)