In vitro biological assessment of berberis vulgaris and its active constituent, berberine: antioxidants, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-diabetic and anticancer effects

Abstract

BackgroundBerberis vulgaris is a well known plant with traditional herbal medical history. The aims of this study was to bioscreen and compare the in vitro biological activity (antioxidant, cholinergic, antidaibetic and the anticancer) of barberry crude extract and berberine active compound.MethodsThe effect of B. vulgaris extract and berberine chloride on cellular thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) formation, diphenyle–α-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) oxidation, cellular nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging capability, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and α-gulcosidase activities were spectrophotometrically determined. On the other hand, the effect of extract and berberine as anticancer was estimated on three different cell lines which were MCF-7, HepG-2, and Caco-2 cells by using neutral red uptake assay which compared with control normal cells (PBMC).ResultsOur results showed that barberry crude extract contains 0.6 mg berberine/mg crude extract. Barberry extract showed potent antioxidative capacity through decreasing TBARS, NO and the oxidation of DPPH that associated with GPx and SOD hyperactivation. Inhibitory effect of berberis crude extract on α-glucosidase was more potent than that of berberine chloride, while both had the same AChE inhibitory effect. Besides, different concentrations of both berberine chloride and barberry ethanolic extract showed to have no growth inhibitory effect on normal blood cells (PBMC). Otherwise, both berberine chloride and barberry ethanolic extract showed to have inhibitory effect on the growth of breast, liver and colon cancer cell lines (MCF7, HepG2 and CACO-2, respectively) at different incubation times starting from 24 hrs up to 72 hrs and the inhibitory effect increased with time in a dose dependant manner.ConclusionThis work demonstrates the potential of the barberry crude extract and its active alkaloid, berberine, on suppressing lipid peroxidation, suggesting a promising use in the treatment of hepatic oxidative stress, Alzheimer and idiopathic male factor infertility. Beside, berberis vulgaris ethanolic extract is safe non-toxic extract as it was not inhibit the growth of PBMC that can induce cancer cell death that could return to its powerful antioxidant activity.

Nephroprotective Effects of Berberis Vulgaris L. Total Extract on Lead Acetate-induced Toxicity in Mice

“…In this concern, B. vulgaris extract could react with free radicals or with lipid peroxidation metabolites, and may also enhance tissue thiol contents, which lead finally to the reduction of oxidative modification of enzymes, and enhancement of antioxidants and glutathione-related enzymes activities. In this context, the beneficial antioxidative effect of B. vulgaris has been previously reported in some animal models [46][47] .…”

The antioxidant and chemical properties of Berberis vulgaris and its cytotoxic effect on human breast carcinoma cells

“…The medicinal properties for all parts of this plant have been reported including antimicrobial, antiemetic, antioxidant and anticancer activities (Wen et al 2013;Končić et al 2010;Abd El-wahab et al 2013). The aim of the present study was to examine and compare the biological in vitro activities (antioxidant, anticancer and apoptotic properties) of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Berberis fruits in human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 in comparison with the normal human epithelial cells (MCF10-A).…”

The preventive effect of Berberis vulgaris extract on contrastinduced acute kidney injury

“…The fruit of B. vulgaris which is very sour and rich in vitamin C is an oblong red berry 7-10 mm long and 3-5 mm broad. They are ripened in late summer or autumn and are usually used as food additive (8). It seems that the effect of B. vulgaris on chronic diseases is due to the presence of alkaloids in this plant.…”

“…Although ROS has been considered as an important mediator of renal damage in CI-AKI, however renal medullary hypoxia is the most important cause of this complication (5-7). As it is now increasingly believed that the use of medicinal plants become more popular worldwide, the evidence suggests that these plants are unlimited reservoirs of most of drugs (8). Herbal medicines are a rich source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activities and most of their beneficial effects have been related to their antioxidant activities (9).…”