berberine

noun

ber·​ber·​ine ˈbər-bə-ˌrēn How to pronounce berberine (audio)
: a bitter crystalline yellow alkaloid C20H19NO5 obtained from the roots of various plants (such as barberry) and used in medicine especially for its antimicrobial properties

Examples of berberine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Products containing the herb berberine offer only a few pounds of weight loss, while many dietary supplement weight loss products contain stimulants such as sibutramine and laxatives such as phenolphthalein, which increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer. C. Michael White / The Conversation, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024 Certain ingredients, like berberine, green tea extract, and others, have shown potential to support metabolic health, but their effects are typically modest compared to prescription GLP-1 agonists, says Dr. Snyder. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 4 Oct. 2024 The herbal compound berberine may also have traditional roots in treating diseases and parasitic infections.17 Additional human research around specific supplement types, dosages, and outcomes is required before any of these options could be recommended as a parasite treatment. Cristina Mutchler, Health, 17 Aug. 2024 When berberine, coined nature’s Ozempic, was trendy, several supplement brands launched their own versions. Emily Burns, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for berberine 

Word History

Etymology

German Berberin, from New Latin berberis

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of berberine was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near berberine

Cite this Entry

“Berberine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berberine. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

berberine

noun
ber·​ber·​ine ˈbər-bə-ˌrēn How to pronounce berberine (audio)
: a bitter crystalline yellow alkaloid C20H19NO5 obtained from the roots of various plants (as barberry) and used as a tonic and antiperiodic
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