A growing list of plant flavonoids and vitamins are being found to have antidepressant and antianxiety effects.

These include vitamin B12, vitamin B6, niacinamide, riboflavin, vitamin D3, hesperidin, naringenin, quercetin, and baicalein.

Now berberine can be added to the list.

Depression is a common problem in patients undergoing drug withdrawal.

Using an animal model for morphine withdrawal, researchers demonstrated that berberine could significantly reduce the behavioral symptoms associated with morphine withdrawal.

They also demonstrated all the brain mechanisms involved in berberine’s antidepression protection.

Excess glutamate receptor activity and accumulation of glutamate in the brain has been shown to play a major role in depression and anxiety.

Blocking certain glutamate receptors can dramatically improve major depression, especially in patients for whom conventional drugs have already failed.

As a major inhibitor of excess glutamate release in the brain, berberine would be expected to improve depression and especially anxiety.