Some plants like goldenseal might help berberine (a natural compound) stay longer in your liver by blocking a pump that usually kicks it out—this lets berberine work better to lower bad cholesterol.

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Pro

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Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

6

Community contributions welcome

6

The medicinal plant goldenseal is a natural LDL-lowering agent with multiple bioactive components and new action mechanisms Published, JLR Papers in Press, August 2, 2006.

Cohort Study

Animal

2006 Oct

Goldenseal has multiple natural chemicals, including one called berberine that helps lower cholesterol. The study found that other chemicals in goldenseal block a cellular pump (MDR1) that usually removes berberine from liver cells, so berberine works better and longer — making goldenseal more effective than berberine alone.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The medicinal plant goldenseal is a natural LDL-lowering agent with multiple bioactive components and new action mechanisms Published, JLR Papers in Press, August 2, 2006.

Score: 6

DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M600195-JLR200

Similar Assertions

Goldenseal, a herbal supplement, has some mysterious chemicals (besides berberine) that help your liver pull more bad cholesterol out of your blood—making it even better at lowering cholesterol than berberine by itself.

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78%

A natural herb called goldenseal might help lower bad cholesterol more effectively than a similar compound called berberine, by helping the liver remove more cholesterol from the blood — based on tests in human liver cells and hamsters.

6

0

74%

Berberine, a natural compound, helps lower bad cholesterol by making liver cells produce more LDL receptors, but the liver kicks it out too fast—like a bouncer removing a guest. Canadine, a similar compound, isn’t kicked out, so it works better and longer.

6

0

71%