ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF METHANOL STEM EXTRACT OF Berberis aristata DC. AND BERBERINE- A BIOACTIVE COMPOUND ISOLATED FROM Berberis aristata DC.

Abstract

Natural products contain important combinations of ingredients, which may to some extent help to modulate the effects produced by oxidation substrates in biological systems. Oxidative stress has been thought to contribute to the general decline in cellular functions that are associated with many human diseases including Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, atherosclerosis, ischemia/reperfusion neuronal injuries, degenerative disease of the human temporomandibular-joint, cataract formation, macular degeneration, degenerative retinal damage, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystry, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, cancers as well as the aging process itself. Increased cellular level of ROS due to oxidative stress can result in an increased steady state level of oxidative DNA damage. The objective of the study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of methanol extract from the stem of Berberis aristata DC. and berberine a bioactive isolated compound of Berberis aristata DC.   by H₂O₂ and DPPH in-vitro methods. It was observed that the methanol extract of the stem of Berberis aristata DC. and berberine were effectively scavenged free radical activity. Those antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidant such as L-Ascorbic acid. Our findings provide evidence that the crude methanol extract of stem of Berberis aristata DC. and its bioactive isolated compound (Berberine) is a potential source of natural antioxidant and this justified its uses in folkloric medicines.