The Coptis (Coptis chinensis) rhizome is primarily used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat digestive, respiratory, and infectious disorders, and is a rich source of the bioactive constituent berberine. Coptis is a valuable therapy in TCM, indicated to treat excess heat-related conditions, such as sore throat, high fever, dysentery, delirium, boils, burns, ulcers, eye inflammation, nosebleed, and blood in the urine, stool, phlegm, or vomit. Coptis is a potent bitter and cold remedy and is considered to be one of the more strongly acting heat-clearing herbal medicines. Recent pharmacological research has shown Coptis to exhibit antibacterial, antidiabetic, antidiarrhoeal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiulcer, antiviral, bitter tonic, chemopreventive, cholagogue, hepatoprotective, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, and nephroprotective activity. Coptis is a valuable berberine-containing plant especially recommended for the treatment of infective, congestive, and inflammatory states of the mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.
