Plant-Based Ozempic a Myth? Berberine Works Only Through the Gut

Berberine, a plant alkaloid often hailed on social media as a 'plant-based Ozempic,' in fact works indirectly and is dependent on gut microbiota, not through a simple hormonal mechanism, according to a scientific review by researchers from Wroclaw. The 2025 paper by a team from Wroclaw Medical University titled 'Berberine in Bowel Health: Anti-Inflammatory and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Effects' sheds new light on the substance's action, challenging its popular portrayal as a natural equivalent of incretin drugs. Scientists clearly note that berberine is not a hormonal drug and does not activate specific receptors in the body. Instead, as the review authors indicate, the heart of berberine's action beats in the gut. The substance influences the gut microbiota, reduces inflammation, and improves intestinal barrier integrity. These effects are closely tied to an individual's composition and function of gut bacteria, meaning supplementation results can vary significantly from person to person. Thus, the promise of a simple and guaranteed weight-loss effect, often suggested in online comparisons, is not supported by current scientific knowledge. This means berberine influences the conditions that shape metabolism, rather than directly managing it. Berberine is an alkaloid obtained from the root of barberry and other plants, used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine, including Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. Its modern interest in a metabolic context began on a larger scale with scientific publications from the early 21st century, which suggested its potential in lowering blood sugar levels and aiding weight reduction. Dr. Anna Duda-Madej, cited in the analyses, emphasizes that the best understood level is the microbial one and its connection to the gut barrier and inflammatory processes. The gut-brain axis seems particularly promising, though its clinical significance still requires further research. The review of publications in the reputable 'International Journal of Molecular Sciences' confirms that mechanisms related to the gut are the best documented. Meanwhile, on social media, this substance has become an undisputed star of supplementation, often compared with modern incretin drugs, suggesting a simple mechanism and guaranteed effect, while science points to a more complex and heterogeneous process.