Adverse effects of the dietary supplement berberine studied on ants as models

Abstract

An extract of Berberis plants is nowadays used as a dietary supplement as well as for treating several medical symptoms, e.g., mostly for regulating glycemia, lipid metabolism and central nervous system disorders. Few or no information has so far been reported about side effects of berberine on behavioral and physiological-linked traits. We thus investigated on the potential adverse effects of the alkaloid berberine by using the ant Myrmica sabuleti as a model. We found that berberine decreased the ant’s food intake, activity, locomotion, and sensory perception, but did not impact their social interactions, cognition, learning and memorization. The ants did not adapt themselves to the side effect of berberine on their locomotion. They did not develop strong dependence on berberine consumption. After weaning, the behavioral effect of a diet with berberine linearly decreased until it vanished in 15 – 18 hours. Researches to assess the effect of berberine on various associated behavioral and physiological traits in mammals and in humans are still needed in order to draw a complete safety profile of this substance.