Preliminary studies show that berberine may have benefits against depression, cancer,infections, fatty liver and heart failure. It also has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Berberine is a chemical found in several plants including European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree tumeric. Some people apply berberine directly to the skin to treat burns and to the eye to treat trachoma, a bacterial infection that frequently causes blindness.