H. trifolia Raf.; Warnera canadensis Mill. Ranunculaceae (formerly in Berberidaceae) Orange root; yellow puccoon; yellow root Hydrastis rhizoma Whole or cut dried rhizome and root Isoquinoline alkaloids (2.5–6%): predominantly hydrastine (1.5–5%), berberine (0.5–6.0%), berberastine (2–3%) and canadine (0.5–1%), with lesser quantities of related alkaloids, including canadaline, corypalmine, hydrastidine and jatrorrhizine (Pharmaceutical Press Editorial Team 2013; WHO 2007; Williamson et al. 2013). The British and European Pharmacopoeias define berberine content in goldenseal root as a minimum of 3% (dried drug), and hydrastine as a minimum of 2.5% (dried drug). Clinical data assessing the effects of goldenseal are limited. More information is available for berberine. A recent systematic review found that berberine may have beneficial effects in the control of blood lipid levels, but that further studies are needed (Dong et al. 2013). Berberine also has antidiabetic properties and several studies have shown it is able to improve glycaemic control (Derosa et al. 2012). The pharmacological activity of goldenseal is attributed to the alkaloids, which have been well studied, but may not necessarily apply to whole extracts of goldenseal rhizome. Well-documented bioactivities exhibited by berberine include antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidaemic and anticancer effects. H. canadensis leaf extract was found to be a more potent antimicrobial against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Goldenseal
Hydrastis canadensis L.
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