ALINESS Berberine Sulphate 99% 400mg 60 vegetarian capsules

Berberine is a golden yellow alkaloid obtained from the roots and stems of Berbaris aristata or more commonly known as barberry. Berberine is also found in other plants such as Hydratis candensis (Goldenseal), coptis chinensis (Coptis or Golden Thread), Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape). These plants containing berberine are used medicinally in virtually all traditional medical systems and have a history of use in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine dating back at least 3,000 years.

Berberine, a quaternary alkaloid, is isolated as its hydrochloride (HCL) or sulfate salts. Berberine hydrochloride (HCL) is more popular on the market due to its price, but therefore it is less effective. Berebrine sulfate is a less common form (more bitter than HCL). The main difference in the available berberines results from the method of isolating the active substance from the Berberis aristata plant.

Berberine hydrochloride and berberine sulfate - which form is better?
Both forms of berberine show the same activity when it comes to the properties of the main part of the molecule, i.e. berberine, because in the body, after dissolving, the molecule - both sulfate and berberine hydrochloride - dissociates into two independent parts: berberine - the main part of the compound showing activity, and chloride or sulfate.
The advantage of sulphate over the hydrochloride form, however, is that in berberine sulphate, in addition to the action of berberine itself, the sulphate residue detached from the molecule may be involved in phase II detoxification reactions (i.e. coupling or biotransformation) taking place in the liver. As a result of the coupling reaction, xenobiotics (which are often toxic compounds) are metabolized in the liver into less toxic forms by attaching to their molecules appropriate functional groups that occur naturally in the body (these groups include the rest of sulfuric acid, i.e. sulphate). Therefore, berberine sulfate provides additional "fuel" to the detoxification process. This is an additional positive effect of berberine sulphate, which is not shown by the compound in the form of the hydrochloride.