About this ingredient
Berberine HCl is a salt form of berberine, a naturally occurring plant alkaloid. Berberine hydrochloride and berberine chloride are used as names for the same salt form in chemical databases. PubChem lists Berberine HCl with CAS 633-65-8, molecular formula C₂₀H₁₈ClNO₄, and molecular weight approximately 371.8 g/mol.
Berberine occurs naturally in several plants, including Berberis species, goldenseal, Oregon grape and other berberine-containing botanicals. It has a long history of traditional use in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Modern research has focused particularly on metabolic pathways involving glucose and lipid metabolism.
Clinical research has reported potential effects on blood glucose, insulin resistance and lipid parameters, particularly in people with metabolic conditions. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 50 randomized controlled trials involving 4,150 participants reported improvements in several glucose and lipid measures, although study quality and results varied.
Berberine has also become popular in weight-management supplements. However, NCCIH states that evidence for weight loss remains inconclusive, with differences in formulations, study populations and study quality.