• The area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC, expressed in ng x h/mL) of berberine incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The changes from the baseline the concentration (ng/ml) of berberine in blood plasma obtained after oral administration of the experimental product BBA.
• The area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC, expressed in ng x h/mL) of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The changes from the baseline the concentration (ng/ml) of berberine in blood plasma obtained after oral administration of the active comparator BB.

• The absorption rate constants (Ka, h-1) of berberine incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The absorption rate constants (Ka, h-1) of berberine obtained after oral administration of the experimental modified product BBA.
• The absorption rate constants (Ka, h-1) of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The absorption rate constants (Ka, h-1) of berberine obtained after oral administration of the active comparator BB.
• Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax, ng/ml) of Berberine incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax, ng/ml), of berberine obtained after oral administration of the experimental modified product BBA
• Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax, ng/ml) of Berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax, ng/ml), of berberine - obtained after oral administration of the active comparator BB.
• Time to reach maximum plasma concentration, Tmax (h) of berberine incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Time to reach maximum plasma concentration, Tmax (h) of berberine obtained after oral administration of the experimental modified product BBA
• Time to reach maximum plasma concentration, Tmax (h) of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Time to reach maximum plasma concentration, Tmax (h) of berberine obtained after oral administration of the active comparator BB.
• Mean absorption time MAT (h) of berberine incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Mean absorption time MAT (h) of berberine obtained after oral administration of the experimental modified product BBA
• Mean absorption time MAT (h) of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Mean absorption time MAT (h) of berberine obtained after oral administration of the active comparator BB

• Relative bioavailability (%) of berberine incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  Relative bioavailability (%) of Berberine from 0 to 96 hours defined as the ratio of AUC0-96h for the tested formulation (Berberine MetX™ Ultra Absorption capsules) to the AUC0-96h obtained for the reference product (100%, Berberine MetX™ Ultra capsules), given by the same route of administration in the same dose. F= AUCBBA/AUCBB x 100%
• Effect of gamma-cyclodextrin on absorption rate constant (Ka, h-1) of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The difference in the absorption rate constants (Ka, h-1) of berberine obtained after oral administration of BBA, and BB.
• Effect of gamma-cyclodextrin on the maximal concentration (ng/ml) of berberine in blood [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The difference in Cmax (ng/ml) of berberine obtained after oral administration of BBA and BB.
• Effect of gamma-cyclodextrin on time (h) to reach maximum plasma concentration of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The difference in Tmax (h) of berberine obtained after oral administration of BBA, and BB.
• Effect of gamma-cyclodextrin on Mean absorption time (h) of berberine [ Time Frame: 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, post-dose ]
  The difference in MAT (h) of berberine obtained after oral administration of BBA, and BB.

In this study, we will evaluate the relative bioavailability of Berberine (BB) from capsules containing Indian Barberry (Berberis aristate DC.) Bark and Root Extract in the blood plasma of healthy subjects after oral administration of:

A. Capsules containing Berberine and GCD (BBA Berberine MetX™ Ultra Absorption, 250 mg) B. Capsules containing Berberine (BB, Berberine MetX™, 500 mg) - (reference product).

Study Background

A growing body of evidence suggests that gamma-cyclodextrin (GCD) can increase the clinical efficacy of water-insoluble biologically active compounds with low bioavailability. GCD is the most bio adaptable and helpful to increase the absorption of many drugs, including Berberine from Indian Barberry (Berberis aristate DC.) Bark and Root Extract by forming inclusion complexes or GCD/drug conjugates.

Berberine has been recommended in traditional practice and recognized by modern science to support healthy blood sugar†, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and overall metabolic health. But despite these findings, standard Berberine can still be difficult for the body to absorb and use effectively.

It's estimated that only about five percent of any given dosage of Berberine makes it into the bloodstream, so finding a way to enhance absorption is key to the full advantage of its benefits.

Hypothesis: gamma-cyclodextrin increases absorption and bioavailability of Berberine from Berberine MetX™ Ultra Absorption capsules.

The study aims to provide experimental evidence supporting or rejecting this hypothesis.

This will be a double-blind, crossover design, pharmacokinetic study, where 16 healthy human volunteers will be randomly assigned to receive two different formulations BBA, and BB, in two consecutive phases of the study:

• Phase A. All patients take capsules BBA., provide blood samples in 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours (9 points) after administration following washout period for two weeks.
• Phase B. All patients take capsules BB, provide blood samples in 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours (9 points) after administration following washout period for two weeks.

Subjects will be in the clinic from not less than 11 hours pre-dose to ensure at least 10 hours fasting before administering the investigational product. They will remain in the facility post-dose until at least 24 hours each period, provided they are not suffering from any adverse event.

The concentration of Berberine in all blood samples will be determined using a validated for a limit of detection, accuracy, and precision analytical method (HPLC-MS) with the internal standard - digoxin. Appropriate mathematical methods and Kinetic 4.4.1 software will be used to generate basic pharmacokinetic parameters.

• Combination Product: Berberine incorporated in gamma cyclodextrin
  Experimental modified product. One capsule contains 250 mg of Berberine from Indian Barberry (Berberis aristate DC.) Bark and Root Extract incorporated in gamma-cyclodextrin
  Other Name: Berberine MetX™ Ultra Absorption, 250 mg
• Dietary Supplement: Berberine
  Active comparator. One capsule contains 500 mg of Berberine from Indian Barberry (Berberis aristate DC.) Bark and Root Extract
  Other Name: Berberine MetX™, 500 mg

• Experimental: Berberine MetX™ Ultra Absorption
  16 healthy subjects will receive orally 500 mg of berberine in two capsules of Berberine MetX™ Ultra Absorption.
  Intervention: Combination Product: Berberine incorporated in gamma cyclodextrin
• Active Comparator: Berberine MetX™
  16 healthy subjects will receive orally 500 mg of berberine in one capsule of Berberine MetX™ (reference product).
  Intervention: Dietary Supplement: Berberine

• Liu CS, Zheng YR, Zhang YF, Long XY. Research progress on berberine with a special focus on its oral bioavailability. Fitoterapia. 2016 Mar;109:274-82. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2016.02.001. Epub 2016 Feb 2. Review.
• Xu X, Yi H, Wu J, Kuang T, Zhang J, Li Q, Du H, Xu T, Jiang G, Fan G. Therapeutic effect of berberine on metabolic diseases: Both pharmacological data and clinical evidence. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Jan;133:110984. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110984. Epub 2020 Nov 10. Review.
• Loftsson T, Moya-Ortega MD, Alvarez-Lorenzo C, Concheiro A. Pharmacokinetics of cyclodextrins and drugs after oral and parenteral administration of drug/cyclodextrin complexes. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2016 May;68(5):544-55. doi: 10.1111/jphp.12427. Epub 2015 Jun 9. Review.
• Kamigauchi M, Kawanishi K, Ohishi H, Ishida T. Inclusion effect and structural basis of cyclodextrins for increased extraction of medicinal alkaloids from natural medicines. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2007 May;55(5):729-33.
• Hopwood VL, Pathak S. Improved quality of Giemsa banding by the use of trypsin concentrate. Am Biotechnol Lab. 1994 Oct;12(11):52.
• Tannous M, Caldera F, Hoti G, Dianzani U, Cavalli R, Trotta F. Drug-Encapsulated Cyclodextrin Nanosponges. Methods Mol Biol. 2021;2207:247-283. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0920-0_19. Review.
• Uekama K. Design and evaluation of cyclodextrin-based drug formulation. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2004 Aug;52(8):900-15. Review.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers, as determined by medical history, physical examination, and clinical laboratory testing,
• Willingness to stay in the unit overnight for the duration of the study,
• Provide a signed written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• overweight (BMI >35 kg/m2),
• pregnancy,
• lactation,
• drug abuse,
• use of dietary supplements or any form of medication (with the exception of oral contraceptives),
• heavy smokers, or ex-smokers with a remote history (> one pack/day),
• frequent alcohol consumption (>20 g ethanol/d),
• adherence to a restrictive dietary regimen,
• physical activity of more than 5 h/wk,
• respiratory tract infections, or suspicion thereof in the last 14 days before dosing,
• history or presence of disease in the kidneys and heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine organs or other conditions such as metabolic disease known to interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs,
• malignancy,
• autoimmune disorders such as (but not limited to) lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or sarcoidosis,
• any other disease or condition, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make the subject unsuitable for this study,
• currently taking medications known to be CYP2C9 inducers (i.e., carbamazepine and rifampicin).

• Scientific Center of Drug and Medical Technologies Expertise of the Ministry of Health, Armenia
• Cardiomed LLC, Armenia
• Institute of Fine Organic Chemistry of the National Academy of Science, Armenia
• Phytomed AB, Sweden