Authors: Ivan Kosalec Barbara Gregurek Dario Kremer Marijana Zovko Krešimir Sanković Ksenija Karlović
Publish Date: 2008/09/28
Volume: 25, Issue: 1, Pages: 145-150
Abstract
By using HPLC/UV–VIS Croatian barberry Berberis croatica Horvat was found to be a new source of the bioactive alkaloid berberine Comparison of berberine content in roots leaves and twigs between wild specimens of B croatica and B vulgaris collected in Croatia showed that the roots of both species contained the highest berberine content B croatica 1120–1217 B vulgaris 0805–1424 followed by twigs B croatica 0049–0216 B vulgaris 0077–0112 While the berberine content in the leaves of both species was very low between 0002 and 0044 they were found to be rich in phenols and flavonols The Student’s ttest showed a significant difference at P 005 for phenol and flavonol content in the plant organs both between species and within species Leaf samples were most variable while root samples were the least Extracts from the roots of both barberry species expressed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis NCTC 8236 Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 Escherichia coli ATCC 10535 Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts was speciesdependent Root extracts of both species also showed lower MIC values than other extracts MIC ≤ 875 mg/ml
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