title: In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae) and Its Main Component, Berberine against Different Leishmania Species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis has been identified as a major public health problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The present study was aimed to investigate antileishmanial effects of various extracts of Berberis vulgaris also its active compoenent, berberine against Leishmania tropica and L. infantum species on in vitro experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study in vitro antileishmanial activity of various extracts of B. vulgaris also its active compoenent, berberine against promastigote and amastigote stages of L. tropica and L. infantum was evaluated, using MTT assay and in a macrophage model, respectively. Furthermore, infectivity rate and cytotoxicity effects of B. vulgaris and berberine in murine macrophage cells were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings of optical density (OD) and IC50 indicated that B. vulgaris particulary berberine significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote stage of L.tropica and L.infantum in comparison to meglumine antimoniate (MA). In addition, B. vulgaris and berberine significantly (P<0.05) decreased the mean number of amastigotes in each macrophage as compared with positive control. In the evaluation of cytotoxicity effects, it could be observed that berberine as compared with B. vulgaris exhibited more cytotoxicity against murine macrophages. Results also showed that when parasites were pre-incubated with B. vulgaris their ability to infect murine macrophages was significantly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  B.vulgaris particularly berberine exhibited potent in vitro leishmanicidal effects against L. tropica and L.infantum. Further works are required to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of B.vulgaris on Leishmania species using clinical settings.
authors: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran ; Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Mahmoudvand
authors: Dept. of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Sharififar
authors: Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Iraj
authors: I
authors: Sharifi
authors: Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
authors: Behrouz
authors: B
authors: Ezatpour
authors: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Fasihi Harandi
authors: Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mahsa Sadat
authors: MS
authors: Makki
authors: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Naser
authors: N
authors: Zia-Ali
authors: Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran ; Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Sareh
authors: S
authors: Jahanbakhsh
keywords: Berberine; Berberis vulgaris; In vitro; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania tropica
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