Article Summary
- Berberine is a plant alkaloid, whereas curcumin, the main constituent of turmeric, is a polyphenol.
- The therapeutic potential of berberine and curcumin lies in their antioxidant properties and ability to modulate immune function and inflammation.*
- Tesseract’s BerberActiv® and TetraCumin® are innovative nutritional supplement formulations that support multiple health functions.*
Both berberine and turmeric are known for their antioxidant properties and their role in helping to maintain the body’s natural inflammatory response.* Both are bitter-tasting, yellow-colored compounds that protect your body from oxidative stress.* Despite several similarities between these two compounds, they are not the same, and they exert their therapeutic effects through different biochemical pathways.
Below, we discuss berberine vs. turmeric, their similarities and differences, the benefits of including these antioxidants in your diet, and how Tesseract’s unique berberine and turmeric nutritional supplements support your health.*
Berberine vs. Turmeric: Similarities and Differences
Berberine is a plant alkaloid, one of a class of naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Berberine is derived from the roots, rhizomes, and stem barks of plants, such as Oregon grape, barberry, tree turmeric, and others. There has been extensive research on berberine’s role in supporting endocrine health and glucose metabolism.* Berberine has also been shown1 to exert positive immuno-modulatory effects by directly modulating functions and differentiation of pro-inflammatory T-helper cells (Th1 and Th17) — the most critical cells required for adaptive immune responses.*
Curcumin, the major curcuminoid in turmeric, is a natural polyphenol found in turmeric (Curcuma longa) — a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family. Curcumin has been found to promote several health functions, including musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal (GI), and immune functions.* Clinical trials2 have established that curcumin targets multiple signaling molecules and demonstrates activity at the cellular level to exert numerous health benefits.*
The following table highlights similarities and key differences between berberine and turmeric.
| Berberine vs. Turmeric: Know the Similarities & Differences | ||
| Berberine vs. Turmeric | Similarities | Differences |
| Berberine and curcumin — the key ingredient of turmeric, are phytochemicals that display antioxidant properties.* | Berberine is derived from plants, such as barberry, tree turmeric, etc. Curcumin is derived from the roots of the Curcuma longa or turmeric plant. | |
| The safety profiles of both compounds are well established. | Chemically, berberine is an alkaloid that contains at least one nitrogen atom. Curcumin is a polyphenol that contains no nitrogen in its chemical structure. | |
| Both compounds are known for modulating gut functions and supporting immune health and inflammation.* | Berberine increases the production of beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut.* Curcumin favors the growth of beneficial bacterial strains in the gut.* | |
| In their natural forms, both compounds taste bitter and display poor bioavailability and absorption in the body. | Berberine and curcumin undergo extensive metabolism and are broken down into their respective active metabolites. | |
Clinical trials have found a potential of the combined effects of berberine and curcumin to modulate the intestinal microbiome and promote the body’s natural immune responses.* An integrative approach to optimizing the therapeutic effects of both compounds has shown promising results for individuals with certain health conditions.
Although berberine and curcumin positively influence multiple health functions, their poor natural bioavailability is a major hindrance to their therapeutic potential. Their bitter taste also results in poor patient compliance. Several recent formulations have been developed to mask their taste and enhance their absorption in the body, with nanoformulations showing better absorption and palatability than the unformulated phytochemicals.
Oral Berberine and Curcumin Supplements to Support Your Health*
When it comes to selecting berberine and turmeric nutritional supplements, there is no argument over their well-known beneficial effects. What matters, though, is how effective the supplement formulations are.
BerberActiv®, developed by Tesseract Medical Research, is a hypoallergenic berberine supplement that supports glucose metabolism, gastrointestinal function, cardiovascular health, lipid metabolism, and liver health.* The formulation contains solubility-enhanced berberine extracted from the roots of the Berberis aristata plant along with the proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology for unprecedented absorption and enhanced palatability.
TetraCumin® is a proprietary blend of Tetrahydrocurcumin — a highly bioactive metabolite of curcumin, which eliminates the need for the body to break down larger and difficult-to-absorb curcumin molecules. The proprietary delivery technology masks the bitter taste of curcumin and ensures the targeted delivery of the active ingredient molecules at the desired point in the GI tract. This translates to optimal absorption of curcumin to support your overall health.*
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing bioavailability and absorption, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can help support your immune health.*
Citations:
1Ehteshamfar SM, et al. …immune-modulatory impacts of berberine….. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine 2020;24-23: 13573-13588. doi:10.1111/jcmm.16049
2Gupta SC, et al. Therapeutic roles of curcumin….. The AAPS journal 2013;15(1):195-218. doi:10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8
3Scazzocchio B, et al. Interaction between gut microbiota and curcumin….. Nutrients 2020;12(9):2499. doi:10.3390/nu12092499
