Effect of the extract of Berberis darwinii Hook alkaloids on innate cellular responses in murine phagocytes

Abstract

Berberis darwinii Hook is a species that inhabits southern Chile and Patagonia. This is being used by the Mapuche ethnic group for the treatment of inflammatory processes, febrile states, and stomach pain. The purpose of the following study was to evaluate in vitro the properties of an alkaloid extract of B. darwinii root on cellular responses in monocytes from the rat peripheral blood. The results of the quantification of the extract showed a total alkaloid concentration of 1.67 mg/g and the characterization by HPLC-MS determined the presence of berberine and palmatine. In vitro, it was observed that the extracts decreased the adhesion capacity and phagocytic activity of the monocytes and inhibited the translocation of the nuclear factor NF-κB associated with the modulation of inflammation, but not the production of superoxide anion. These results indicate that the total alkaloids of B. darwinii inhibit some specific mechanisms of cellular defense.