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Research regarding the anti-parasitic activity of Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) and/or its active compounds berberine and hydrastine
This information has been complied in order to facilitate the research efforts of health care professionals and others. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, mitigate, or prevent any disease. The information is presented with the latest publications first. This is an ongoing work so check back often as we will update these pages as more information becomes available. Also see the anti-parasitic and anti-diarrhea pages. Last Updated : 08/25/2008
Giardiasis: pathophysiology and management.
Hawrelak, J.
Altern Med Rev. 2003 May;8(2):129-42.
Giardia, a common human parasite, can cause significant morbidity; however, natural medicine has great potential to influence the course of Giardia infection. The most beneficial way to treat giardiasis naturally may be through a combination approach, utilizing both nutritional interventions and phytotherapeutic agents. Nutritional intervention aims to reduce the acute symptoms of Giardia and help clear the infection. This can best be achieved by consuming a whole-food based, high-fiber, diet that is low in fat, lactose, and refined sugars. Additionally, ingestion of probiotics and wheat germ assists in parasite clearance. Numerous medicinal herbs show promise in the treatment of giardiasis. Berberine-containing herbs, garlic, and the Ayurvedic formulation Pippali rasayana currently have the most clinical evidence supporting their use. Blending the nutritional interventions and phytotherapeutic agents outlined in this article can minimize Giardia symptomatology and aid clearance of the parasite, without significant ill effects. As such, this therapeutic strategy should be considered the first-line approach. Antibiotic use may best be reserved for cases that fail to respond to initial treatment with natural measures.
Evaluation of the effect of a plant alkaloid (berberine derived from Berberis aristata) on Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro.
Soffar SA, Metwali DM, Abdel-Aziz SS, el-Wakil HS, Saad GA.
J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2001 Dec;31(3):893-904 + 1p plate.
Berberine is a quaternary alkaloid derived from the plant Berberis aristata having antibacterial, antiamoebic, antifungal, antihelminthic, leishmanicidal and tuberculostatic properties. The effect of berberine sulphate salt on the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro was compared to the efficacy of metronidazole as a reference drug. Results showed that berberine sulphate was comparable to metronidazole as regards potency with the advantage of being more safe and possible replacement in metronidazole resistant cases.
Growth-inhibiting effects of Coptis japonica root-derived isoquinoline alkaloids on human intestinal bacteria.
Chae SH, Jeong IH, Choi DH, Oh JW, Ahn YJ.
J Agric Food Chem. 1999 Mar;47(3):934-8.
The growth-inhibiting activity of Coptis japonica (Makino) root-derived materials toward eight human intestinal bacteria was examined using an impregnated paper disk method and compared to that of four commercially available isoquinoline alkaloids [berberine sulfate (BS), berberine iodide (BI), palmatine chloride (PC), and palmatine sulfate(PS)], as well as that of Thea sinensis leaf-derived epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The biologically active constituents of the Coptis extract were characterized as the isoquinoline alkaloids berberine chloride (BC), palmatine iodide (PI), and coptisine chloride (CC) by spectral analysis. The growth responses varied with both chemical and bacterial strain used. In a test using 500 microg/disk, BC and PI produced a clear inhibitory effect against Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridium paraputrificum, whereas weak or no inhibition was observed in Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Escherichia coli. At 1000 microg/ disk, CC revealed weak or no growth inhibition toward all test bacteria, whereas EGCG exhibited weak growth inhibition against only C. perfringens and C. paraputrificum. Among various isoquinoline alkaloids, BC exhibited more potent inhibitory activity toward C. perfringens than BI and BS, whereas the inhibitory effect was more pronounced in PI compared to PC and PS.
In vitro effects of berberine sulphate on the growth and structure of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis.
Kaneda Y, Torii M, Tanaka T, Aikawa M.
Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1991 Aug;85(4):417-25.
The plant alkaloid, berberine sulphate, inhibited the growth of Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis in BI-S-33 medium, and induced morphological changes in the parasites. Exposure of E. histolytica to berberine caused a clumping of chromatin in the nucleus, and the formation of autophagic vacuoles and aggregates of small vacuoles in the cytoplasm. In berberine-treated G. lamblia, an irregularly-shaped vacuole appeared in the cytoplasm and gradually enlarged during culture. The trophozoites became swollen and deposits of glycogen were seen in the cytoplasm. Trichomonas vaginalis was also affected by the berberine; autophagic vacuoles increased in number soon after exposure, and one large vacuole, which was characteristic of treated cells, appeared. These observations demonstrate that, in vitro, this drug was effective against E. histolytica, G. lamblia and T. vaginalis. Another alkaloid, coptisine, was inactive against the three parasites.
Berberine derivatives as antileishmanial drugs.
Vennerstrom JL, Lovelace JK, Waits VB, Hanson WL, Klayman DL.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990 May;34(5):918-21.
Berberine, a quaternary
alkaloid, and several of its derivatives were tested for efficacy against
Leishmania donovani and Leishmania braziliensis panamensis in golden
hamsters. Tetrahydroberberine was less toxic and more potent than berberine
against L. donovani but was not as potent as meglumine antimonate (Glucantime),
a standard drug for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Only berberine and
8-cyanodihydroberberine showed significant activity (greater than 50%
suppression of lesion size) against L. braziliensis panamensis.
Effects of berberine, a plant alkaloid, on the growth of anaerobic protozoa in axenic culture.
Kaneda Y, Tanaka T, Saw T.
Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 1990 Nov;15(6):417-23.
Extracts obtained by organic solvents from the root of Coptis teeta in Myanmar (Burma), were tested for growth inhibitory activity against Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica in axenic culture. All extracts had anti-protozoal activity with the methanol extract, in particular, being effective against all 3 parasites. By chromatographic analysis, the extracts were shown to contain berberine compounds and other alkaloids. Comparing the inhibitory effects of the methanol extract with berberine sulfate, a berberine salt previously shown to possess inhibitory activity, it was observed that the crude extract was more effective than the salt. This suggests that the greater inhibitory activity of the crude extract may be due to the cumulative contributions of its contained berberines and alkaloids. Based on these findings, it appears that the berberine compounds may be useful as chemotherapeutic agents against the 3 parasites tested.
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