Epiberberine is an alkaloid that has been found in C. chinensis and has diverse biological activities.1,2,3 It inhibits the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase 1 (BACE1; IC50s = 1.07, 6.03, and 8.55 ?M, respectively).1 Epiberberine scavenges peroxynitrite radicals in a cell-free assay with an IC50 value of 16.83 ?M. It is cytotoxic to HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells when used at a concentration of 100 ?M.2 Epiberberine (70 mg/kg) reduces serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in Syrian golden hamsters fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet.3
1.Jung, H.A., Min, B.S., Yokozawa, T., et al.Anti-Alzheimer and antioxidant activities of Coptidis Rhizoma alkaloidsBiol. Pharm. Bull.32(8)1433-1438(2009) 2.Chen, H.-Y., Ye, X.-L., Cui, X.-L., et al.Cytotoxicity and antihyperglycemic effect of minor constituents from Rhizoma Coptis in HepG2 cellsFitoterapia83(1)67-73(2012) 3.Zou, Z.-Y., Hu, Y.-R., Ma, H., et al.Epiberberine reduces serum cholesterol in diet-induced dyslipidemia Syrian golden hamsters via network pathways involving cholesterol metabolismEur. J. Pharmacol.774(2016)