title: Berberine synergy with amphotericin B against disseminated candidiasis in mice.
abstract: In present study, we investigated the synergic effect of berberine against disseminated candidiasis caused by the pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. Berberine inhibited the growth of C. albicans under in-vitro condition. The broth susceptibility revealed the synergic effect of berberine with amphotericin B (Amp B). To confirm these results under the in-vivo condition, the effect was examined in mice against disseminated candidiasis. Results showed mice that were given diluent (negative control), Amp B (0.5 mg/kg of body weight), or berberine (1 mg/kg of body weight) had mean survival times (MST) of approximately 12, 14, and 17 d, respectively. On the contrary, mice that were treated using a combination of the two agents at the same concentrations resulted in a MST value of 36 d, surviving at an average of 22 d longer than the mice group treated only with the Amp B. This MST value was almost same as MST value from the mice that were given four times the Amp B dose. These data indicate that the combination of Amp B and berberine could reduce approximately 75% of the Amp B dose, implying that berberine indeed has synergy with Amp B against the disseminated disease.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women's University, Seoul, Korea. ymhan@dongduk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Yongmoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jue-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine; D000666:Amphotericin B