很多研究都顯示小檗鹼(或稱為黃連素)有調節葡萄糖和脂質代謝的作用。近年一項先導研究充分表明了小檗鹼在治療2型糖尿病患者中的療效和安全性。在研究A中，在為期3個月的試驗中，將36名新診斷為2型糖尿病的成年人隨機分配至接受小檗鹼或二甲雙胍治療(一種主要的西藥降糖藥)，服用方法都是每日3次，每次服用500毫克。結果發現小檗鹼的降血糖作用與二甲雙胍相似。服用小檗鹼組的糖化血色素A1c、空腹血糖、餐後血糖和血漿甘油三酸酯水平得到明顯降低。在研究B中，在3個月的試驗中，對48位2型糖尿病控制不佳的成年人補充了小檗鹼的治療。結果發現，從一周開始到試驗結束，小檗鹼能將空腹血糖值和餐後血糖值有效降低。 糖化血色素A1c從8.1％降至7.3％。空腹血漿胰島素和HOMA-IR分別降低了28.1％和44.7％。總膽固醇和低密度脂蛋白膽固醇（LDL-C）也顯著降低。該初步研究得出結論，小檗鹼是一種有效的口服降糖草藥，對脂質代謝具有良好益處。
Berberine has been shown to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. There is one pilot study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients. In study A, 36 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to treatment with berberine or metformin (500mg three times daily) in a 3-month trial. The hypoglycemic effect of berberine was similar to that of metformin. Significant decreases in hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose and plasma triglycerides were observed in the berberine group. In study B, 48 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were treated supplemented with berberine in a 3-month trial. Berberine acted by lowering FBG and PBG from one week to the end of the trial. HbA1c decreased from 8.1% to 7.3%. Fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR were reduced by 28.1% and 44.7%, respectively. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were decreased significantly as well. This pilot study concluded that berberine is a potent oral hypoglycemic agent with beneficial effects on lipid metabolism.
Source
Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Metabolism. 2008 May; 57(5): 712–717.
doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013
