What specific group of liver enzymes does berberine inhibit, impacting drug processing?
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes
Berberine exerts a significant impact on pharmacokinetics by acting as an inhibitor of several Cytochrome P450 enzymes within the liver. Specifically noted are inhibitions affecting pathways such as CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4. These enzymes are the primary metabolic machinery responsible for breaking down, modifying, and clearing a vast array of prescribed and over-the-counter medications from the body. When these crucial metabolic pathways are inhibited by an external substance like berberine, the concentration of co-administered drugs that rely on those specific CYP enzymes for clearance increases substantially within the bloodstream, heightening the potential for dose-dependent side effects or outright toxicity.
