What is the Difference Between Berberine and Berberine HCl

The key difference between berberine and berberine HCl is that berberine is a naturally occurring compound, whereas berberine HCl is a chemically formulated supplement.

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt that occurs in plants such as Berberis. Berberine HCl is the most common form of berberine that is available over the counter. Berberine compound is combined with HCl and made into a supplement for the treatment of different medical conditions.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Berberine
3. What is Berberine HCl
4. Berberine vs Berberine HCl in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Berberine vs Berberine HCl

What is Berberine?

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt that occurs in plants such as Berberis. It usually can be found in the roots, rhizomes, stems, and bark. This compound belongs to the group of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Berberis species has a yellow color; therefore, it is used for wool dye, leather, and wood. Moreover, berberine shows a strong yellow fluorescence, which makes it important in histology for staining heparin in mast cells.

There is no adequate definition in high-quality clinical research for the safety of using berberine for any condition. However, it has a high potential to cause adverse effects. This includes untoward interactions with prescription drugs, reducing the intended effect of established therapies. Particularly, this drug is unsafe for children.

Berberine vs Berberine HCl in Tabular Form

Figure 01: Biosynthesis of Berberine

Berberine can be described as a naturally occurring supplement, which is the most effective natural supplement. This substance has impressive health benefits, and it can affect the body at the molecular level. This compound also appears to be lowering blood sugar, causing weight loss and improvement of heart health.

After the uptake of berberine, it is taken in by the body and transferred into the bloodstream. This can cause it to travel all over the body, towards cells. When the compound is inside a cell, it can bind to several molecular targets, which can change its function. This function is similar to the function of a pharmaceutical drug inside our body. One of the most important actions of berberine is the activation of an enzyme inside cells known as the AMP-Activated protein kinase (AMPK) enzyme.

What is Berberine HCl?

Berberine HCl is the most common form of berberine that is available over the counter. It is the chemical form of natural berberine compound. Berberine HCl comes in the form of a supplement where it contains capsules of 500 mg. Often, the label of the supplement recommends taking berberine HCl capsules three times per day. Moreover, it is advised to take this capsule before meals. Therefore, the recommended daily dose is 1500 mg.

However, the uptake of berberine HCl supplement can cause sub-chronic toxicity, which is reported to damage lung and liver by increasing alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to a significant degree.

What is the Difference Between Berberine and Berberine HCl?

Berberine is a natural compound that can be found commonly in the plants of the berberis species. This compound is combined with HCl and made into a supplement for the treatment of different medical conditions. Therefore, the key difference between berberine and berberine HCl is that berberine is a naturally occurring compound, whereas berberine HCl is a chemically formulated supplement.

The below infographic presents the differences between berberine and berberine HCl in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Berberine vs Berberine HCl

Berberine is a quaternary ammonium salt that occurs in plants such as Berberis. Berberine HCl is the most common form of berberine that is available over the counter. The key difference between berberine and berberine HCl is that berberine is a naturally occurring compound, whereas berberine HCl is a chemically formulated supplement.