Bergenin by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Bergenin monohydrate is an isocumeric compound that is found in several herbs. Bergenin is a C-glycoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid. Bergenin may have potential to treat cardiac arrhythmias.

Some plants that have bergenin
Ardisia colorata fruits have ardisiphenols, bergenin, a bergenin derivative demethoxybergenin, alkylresorcinols, embelin, myricetin, quercetin, norbergenin, kaempferol, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and gallic acid.
Ardisia japonica has about 50 to 60 percent bergenin. The content of bergenin in Ardisia pusilla and Ardisia japonica is similar.
Astilbe chinensis has bergenin
Astilbe thunbergii has bergenin
Bergenia crassifolia
Bergenia ligulata herb has bergenin and gallic acid.
Bergenia stracheyi
Flueggea virosa leaves have a good amount of bergenin.
Mallotus japonicus has a good amount of bergenin. Norbergenin, which is the O-demethyl derivative of bergenin, the main component of Mallotus japonicus, has moderate antioxidant activity.
Mallotus roxburghianus is used in the traditional medicine in North-Eastern India and contains bergenin.
Sacoglottis gabonensis bark has bergenin.

Bergenin research studies
Protective effects of bergenin, the major constituent of Mallotus japonicus, on D-galactosamine-intoxicated rat hepatocytes.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 April Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea.
This study was designed to investigate the effects of bergenin against D-galactosamine-induced injury in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Bergenin (100 microM) decreased the release of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and sorbitol dehydrogenase into hepatocyte medium incubated for 14 h with 1.5 mM galactosamine. The present results suggest that bergenin show hepatoprotective effects against galactosamine-intoxicated rat hepatocytes by inhibiting the release of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and sorbitol dehydrogenase as well as by increasing RNA synthesis.

Antihepatotoxic activity of bergenin, the major constituent of Mallotus japonicus, on carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated hepatocytes.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 January. College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, South Korea.
To determine the antihepatotoxic activity of bergenin from Mallotus japonicus, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes has been adopted as an assay system. Bergenin significantly reduced the activities of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and sorbitol dehydrogenase released from the CCl4-intoxicated hepatocytes. The antihepatotoxicity of bergenin was also evidenced by elevating the activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase, and content of glutathione in the CCl4-intoxicated hepatocytes. From these results, it is assumed that bergenin exerted antihepatotoxicity against CCl4-induced cytotoxicity through glutathione-mediated detoxification as well as free radical suppressing activity.

Constituents of Ardisia japonica and their in vitro anti-HIV activity.
J Nat Prod. 1996 June. Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Italy.
As part of our screening of anti-AIDS agents from medicinal plants, the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Ardisia japonica was tested, and it showed moderate in vitro anti-HIV activity. Reexamination to identify the compounds responsible for the anti-HIV activity revealed several known compounds and a new triterpenoid saponin. All of the isolated compounds were tested and, although none of the triterpenoid saponins was active, bergenin and norbergenin showed weak anti-HIV activity.

Studies on the chemical constituents of Ardisia crenata Sims
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1989 December.
A new bergenin derivative isolated from the root of Ardisia crenata was determined to be 11-o-syringylbergenin by spectral methods. Other compounds were identified as spinasterol, series fatty acids, beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside, norbergenin and sucrose respectively. The last three were obtained for the first time from the genus of Ardisia.