Abstract

Berberis vulgaris is a shrub in the family Berberidaceae. B. vulgaris as well as other berberine (BER) containing plants are used medicinally in virtually all-traditional medical systems. In the present study, the efficacy of ethanolic extract of dried root powder of B. vulgaris as anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti hepatitis C was evaluated. Also, its efficacy for induction of phagocytisis and lymphoporiferation was determined. The data showed thatB. vulgaris ethanolic extract have strong anti bacterial effect (gram positive and gram negative) at concentrations range from 2.5 to 20 mg/ml. Anti fungal activity was measured according to inhibition of the production of aflatoxine B1 and B2, where ethanolic extract ofB. vulgaris was able to inhibit the production of 44 and 98.3% of aflatoxine B1 and 67.2 and 89% of aflatoxine B2 at concentration of 0.01 to 0.1%, respectively. On the other hand, the ethanolic extract inhibits hepatitis C virus replication at concentration of 100 µg/ml, at single dose, while inducing lymphoproliferative effect and phagocytic activity in a dose dependant manner. In conclusion, B. vulgaris extract can be considered an efficient antimicrobial especially hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Aspergillus flavus. This effect could be returned to its immunostimulant capacity as it enhances the activity of peripheral blood mono nuclear cells(PMNC), especially phagocytic cells. 

Key words: Berberis vulgaris, ethanolic extract, gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, anti-bacteria, aflatoxines, hepatitis C virus, immune stimulation, phagocytosis.