Coptisine
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Coptisine is a dietary supplement with 8 published peer-reviewed studies involving 260 participants, researched for Blood Sugar Control, Antimicrobial Activity, Anti-inflammatory Activity and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Blood Sugar Control
WeakAntimicrobial Activity
WeakAnti-inflammatory Activity
WeakAnti-cancer Activity
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Blood Sugar Control
To evaluate hypoglycemic effects of Coptisine in STZ-induced diabetic mice
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To evaluate hypoglycemic effects of Coptisine in STZ-induced diabetic mice
Dose
25-100 mg/kg Coptisine
Participants
30 STZ-induced diabetic mice
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Coptisine significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, improved insulin sensitivity, activated AMPK pathway, and partially preserved pancreatic β-cell function. Effects were dose-dependent and comparable to Berberine.
How They Measured It
Fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, pancreatic β-cell markers, AMPK activation
To investigate mechanisms of Coptisine-induced glucose uptake in adipocytes
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To investigate mechanisms of Coptisine-induced glucose uptake in adipocytes
Dose
1-100 μM Coptisine
Participants
3T3-L1 adipocytes
Duration
2 hours
Results
Coptisine stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes through GLUT4 translocation via insulin-dependent (IR/Akt) and AMPK-dependent pathways, with an additive effect when combined with insulin.
How They Measured It
Glucose uptake assay (2-NBDG), GLUT4 translocation, Akt/mTOR signaling, IR activation
Antimicrobial Activity
To evaluate antibacterial activity of Coptisine against drug-resistant bacterial pathogens
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To evaluate antibacterial activity of Coptisine against drug-resistant bacterial pathogens
Dose
Coptisine 0.5-128 μg/mL
Participants
MRSA, VRSA, MDR E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae
Duration
24-72 hours
Results
Coptisine exhibited significant bactericidal activity against MRSA (MIC 4 μg/mL) and MDR Gram-negative pathogens. Mechanism involves membrane disruption and DNA gyrase inhibition. Strong antibiofilm activity also demonstrated.
How They Measured It
MIC determination, time-kill kinetics, membrane permeability assay, biofilm inhibition
To assess antifungal activity of Coptisine against Candida species
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To assess antifungal activity of Coptisine against Candida species
Dose
Coptisine 1-64 μg/mL
Participants
Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis
Duration
48 hours
Results
Coptisine demonstrated antifungal activity against all Candida species tested (MIC 4-32 μg/mL), disrupted biofilm formation, and synergized with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant strains.
How They Measured It
MIC/MFC determination, anti-biofilm assays, ERG11 expression, cell wall integrity analysis
Anti-inflammatory Activity
To characterize anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Coptisine in models of acute inflammation
Study Type
In vitro and animal study
Purpose
To characterize anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Coptisine in models of acute inflammation
Dose
5-50 μM (in vitro), 20-80 mg/kg (animal)
Participants
Macrophage cells and 20 mice with carrageenan edema
Duration
24 hours (in vitro), 6 hours (animal)
Results
Coptisine inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduced IL-1β maturation, suppressed NF-κB signaling, and significantly attenuated carrageenan-induced paw edema in rodent inflammation models.
How They Measured It
Cytokine profiling (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), NLRP3 inflammasome, NF-κB, carrageenan edema model
Anti-cancer Activity
To evaluate the anticancer mechanism of Coptisine in gastric cancer cells
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To evaluate the anticancer mechanism of Coptisine in gastric cancer cells
Dose
5-50 μM Coptisine
Participants
SGC-7901 and AGS gastric cancer cell lines
Duration
48 hours
Results
Coptisine potently inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation (IC50 12-18 μM), induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, caused DNA double-strand breaks, and inhibited topoisomerase I and II activity.
How They Measured It
Cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, DNA damage markers (γH2AX), topoisomerase inhibition
To evaluate Coptisine antitumor activity in a colon cancer xenograft model
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To evaluate Coptisine antitumor activity in a colon cancer xenograft model
Dose
20-40 mg/kg Coptisine
Participants
20 nude mice with HCT116 xenografts
Duration
21 days
Results
Coptisine significantly reduced tumor growth, increased tumor apoptosis, reduced Ki67 proliferation index, and suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling without significant organ toxicity.
How They Measured It
Tumor volume, body weight, apoptosis (TUNEL), Ki67, Wnt/β-catenin signaling
To review the pharmacological properties and anticancer mechanisms of Coptisine
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To review the pharmacological properties and anticancer mechanisms of Coptisine
Dose
Various formulations
Participants
Review of 35 pre-clinical studies
Duration
Various
Results
Coptisine demonstrates anticancer activity against gastric, colon, hepatic, and lung cancers via multiple mechanisms including topoisomerase inhibition, apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and Wnt signaling suppression.
How They Measured It
Systematic review of pre-clinical studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Coptisine research
There are currently 8 peer-reviewed studies on Coptisine (Coptisine), involving 260 total participants. Research covers Blood sugar control, Antimicrobial activity, Anti-inflammatory activity and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Weak.
The evidence is currently rated as "Weak Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (0 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Coptisine has been researched for: Blood sugar control, Antimicrobial activity, Anti-inflammatory activity, Anti-cancer activity. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Currently all 8 studies on Coptisine are animal or in-vitro studies. Human clinical trials are needed before the evidence can be rated above "Weak".
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