Berberine has numerous beneficial health promoting attributes, and one of these is its antibacterial properties. In fact it has been widely used in the management of bacterial diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Recently, however, berberine was demonstrated to “enhance the inhibitory efficacy of antibiotics against clinical multi-drug resistant isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).” Its action was also described to act synergistically along with antibiotic therapy. In fact, it was stated that “the combined use of Berberine improved the bactericidal activity of antiobiotics against MRSA, lowered the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics, and notably decreased adhesion and intracellular invasion of MRSA.” Berberine was demonstrated to be very beneficial against MRSA, which is commonly referred to as an “antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”
Chu M, Zhang M, Liu Y, Kang J, Chu Z, Yin K, Ding L, Ding R, Xiao R, Yin Y, Liu X, Wang Y. Role of Berberine in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus Infections. Scientific Reports. 2016 6:24748. doi:10.1038/srep24748.