In vitro anti-helicobacter pylori activity of berberine and barberry extracts: A preliminary report

Abstract

The berberine accumulation in Berberis vulgaris and antibacterial activity of plant extracts against Helicobacter pylori were examined. The antibacterial activities of berberine, the main alkaloid of B. vulgaris, and standard antimicrobials metronidazole and tetracycline were also determined. Berberine content was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography. The antibacterial activity of plant extracts, berberine and reference antibiotics was tested by the broth microdilution method. The highest amount of berberine was found in the root bark (3.99 g/kg, dry wt). The plant extracts tested exhibited in vitro antibacterial activity against H. pylori, but the activities were lower than those of berberine.