Antidiarrheal activity, chemical and toxicity profile of Berberis aristata

Context: This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antidiarrheal activity, oral acute toxicological profile, and developed a chemical fingerprint of Berberis aristata Linn. (Berberidaceae). Materials and methods: The ethanol (by maceration) and aqueous (by Soxhlet) extracts of Berberis aristata bark were used for the study. The study involved the antimicrobial (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) by micro dilution) and antidiarrheal (castor oil induced diarrhea, charcoal motility) tests. The active principle, berberine was characterized by different spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Results: The MIC and MBC (of both extracts) against all strains of Shigella were recorded between 125 to 500 mu g/mL and 300 to 600 mu g/mL, respectively. The MIC and MBC values of berberine are almost comparable to standard ciprofloxacin. UV and IR spectroscopy along with HPTLC and HPLC studies showed presence of berberine in the extracts. The onset of castor oil induced diarrhea was delayed and number of diarrheal episodes was reduced by both the extracts in a dose dependent manner. Similarly, the length of intestine traveled by the feed was also significantly reduced in the charcoal motility test by both the extracts. LD50 of >5000 mg/kg body weight was observed for both extracts in the acute oral toxicity studies with Swiss albino mice. Conclusion: The results validate in vivo and in vitro antidiarrheal activity of Berberis aristata extracts and provide its chemical fingerprint.