Abstract
The inhibitory effects of three berberine alkaloids (BAs) from rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Staphylococcus aureus growth were investigated by microcalorimetry. The power-time curves of S. aureus with and without BAs were acquired; meanwhile the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism were evaluated by studying the growth rate constant (k), half inhibitory ratio (IC50), maximum heat-output power (P max), peak time of maximum heat-output power (t p) and total heat production (Q t). The value of k of S. aureus in the presence of the three BAs decreased with the increasing concentrations of BAs. Moreover, P max was reduced and the value of t p increased with increasing concentrations of the three drugs. The inhibitory activity varied with different drugs. The values of IC50 of the three BAs are respectively, 101.4 μg/mL for berberine, 241.0 μg/mL for palmatine and 792.3 μg/mL for jateorrhizine. The sequence of antimicrobial activity of the three BAs is: berberine > palmatine > jateorrhizine. It is suggested that the functional group methylenedioxy or methoxyl at C2 on the phenyl ring could possibly improve antimicrobial activity more strongly than hydroxyl at C2 on the phenyl ring.
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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30625042)
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Yan, D., Xiao, X., Jin, C. et al. Microcalorimetric investigation of the effect of berberine alkaloids from Coptis chinensis Franch on Staphylococcus aureus growth. Sci. China Ser. B-Chem. 51, 640–645 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-008-0072-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-008-0072-x