Elucidating Therapeutic and Biological Potential of Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt Bark, Leaf, and Root Extracts

Abstract

Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt is a medicinal plant known to have potential for the treatment of various diseases. In the present study, the ethanolic extracts of the bark, leaves, and roots of B. baluchistanica plant were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial, anti-leishmanial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were determined by agar mix and agar well diffusion method. All extracts showed potential activity against the target bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor mucedo). S. aureus proved to be the most sensitive strain for each extract, with a maximum zone of inhibition for bark at 23 ± 0.12 mm, for leaves at 22 ± 0.36 mm, and for root extracts at 20.21 ± 0.06 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration values of B. baluchistanica bark, leaves, and roots for different target bacterial strains ranged from 1.56 to 25 mg ml–1, and the minimum bactericidal concentrations were in the range of 3.12 to 25 mg ml–1, respectively. The root extract possessed potent antifungal activity against A. flavus with 83% of growth inhibition, A. niger with 80%, and M. mucedo with 73%. The bark extract was found active against M. mucedo with 86% of inhibition, followed by 70% against A. flavus and 60% against A. niger. The leaf extract showed a significant response by 83% inhibition against M. mucedo, followed by A. flavus and A. niger with 73 and 72% inhibition, respectively. In an anti-leishmanial bioassay, the inhibitory concentration (IC50) was observed for each extract against Leishmania major. The bark showed good activity (IC50 = 4.95 ± 0.36 mg/ml), followed by the roots (IC50 = 7.07 ± 0.18 mg/ml) and the leaves (IC50 = 8.25 ± 0.29 mg/ml). An evaluation of anticancer activity was done by using MTT cell assay against HeLa cell line. Upon comparing the values of each extract to the standard, it was revealed that the ethanolic bark extract showed the highest anticancer activity with IC50 = (12 ± 0.15 μg/ml), followed by the roots (14 ± 0.15 μg/ml) and the leaves (17 ± 0.21 μg/ml), respectively. The anti-inflammatory assay was undertaken by the inhibition of albumin denaturation activity, proteinase inhibitory activity, and heat-induced hemolysis activity. The IC50 value for protein denaturation of the bark was IC50 = 0.64 ± 0.25 mg/ml, followed by the roots (0.67 ± 0.21 mg/ml) and the leaves (0.73 ± 0.13 mg/ml). The proteinase inhibitory activity of the bark extract was IC50 = 0.55 ± 0.12 mg/ml, followed by the leaves (0.62 ± 0.23 mg/ml) and the roots (0.69 ± 0.15 mg/ml), respectively. For heat-induced hemolysis assay, the bark showed the lowest IC50 value (0.48 ± 0.15 mg/ml) compared to the leaves (0.52 ± 0.35 mg/ml) and the roots (0.58 ± 0.05 mg/ml) of the plant. All analyzed parts of the B. baluchistanica plant showed significant biological activities which make the plant medicinally important and a good candidate for the isolation of antimicrobial, inflammatory, and anticancer compounds. Further studies may lead us to determine the active compounds responsible for the biological activities of the plant extracts.

High Throughput Screening for Bioactive Components of Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt Root and Their Functional Potential Assessment

“…Dimethyl sulfoxide and doxycycline (DO 30 μ g) were used as negative and positive controls. The results were observed after 16-24 h of incubation at 37°C, diameter of the inhibition zones was measured in millimeter (mm) [ 21 ].…”

Bio-Functional Potential and Biochemical Properties of Propolis Collected from Different Regions of Balochistan Province of Pakistan

“…Incubation was carried out for 24 h at 37 °C. The results were expressed in terms of diameter of inhibition zone around the wells [ 14 ].…”

“…The antifungal drug fluconazole was used as a reference. Plates were incubated at 37 °C for 72 h, and the diameter of inhibition zone around the well was recorded [ 14 ]. Results are calculated by the following equation: …”

“…Trace elements Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr analyses were carried out through atomic absorption Perkin Elmer 3110 spectrophotometer with hollow cathode lamps as radiation source operated at 5 mA at 393 and 279 nm wavelengths and acetylene air flame as fuel. Digestion of each sample was done according to a previously reported protocol [ 14 , 16 ]. Briefly, 0.5 g powder of each sample was taken, and 8 mL mixture of acids (5 mL nitric acid, 2 mL sulfuric acid, and 1 mL perchloric acid) was added.…”

“…Antileishmanial Assay. The antileishmanial activity of propolis extracts was evaluated by following the method [14] with slight variations. Propolis extracts were analyzed against L. major (promastigotes) in culture by 96-well plate.…”