[Advance on study in anti-atherosclerosis mechanism of berberine].

Coptis chinensis is a traditional Chinese herb that has the effect of clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire to eliminate toxin. Berberine is the main alkaloid of C. chinensis, and researches showed recently, berberine had the effect of anti-atherosclerosis. This paper has reviewed the mechanism of berberine in anti-atherosclerosis from anti-inflammation, regulating lipid, decompression, reducing blood sugar, and inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.