In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to isoquinoline alkaloids from Sanguinaria canadensis and Hydrastis canadensis

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2003-03, Vol.17 (3), p.217-221
• Main Authors: Mahady, Gail B., Pendland, Susan L., Stoia, Adenia, Chadwick, Lucas R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaloids - administration & dosage; Alkaloids - pharmacology; Alkaloids - therapeutic use; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; berberine; Biological and medical sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; General pharmacology; Helicobacter Infections - drug therapy; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - drug effects; Humans; Hydrastis; Hydrastis canadensis; Isoquinolines - administration & dosage; Isoquinolines - pharmacology; Isoquinolines - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Roots; Sanguinaria; Sanguinaria canadensis; sanguinarine
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1108

Methanol extracts of the rhizomes of Sanguinaria canadensis, and the roots and rhizomes of Hydrastis canadensis, two plants used traditionally for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments, were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity against 15 strains of Helicobacter pylori. The rhizome extracts, as well as a methanol extract of S. canadensis suspension‐cell cultures inhibited the growth of H. pylori in vitro, with a MIC50 range of 12.5–50.0 µg/ml. Three isoquinoline alkaloids were identified in the active fraction. Sanguinarine and chelerythrine, two benzophenanthridine alkaloids, inhibited the growth of the bacterium, with an MIC50 of 50.0 and 100.0 µg/ml, respectively. Protopine, a protopine alkaloid, also inhibited the growth of the bacterium, with a MIC50 of 100 µg/ml. The crude methanol extract of H. canadensis rhizomes was very active, with an MIC50 of 12.5 µg/ml. Two isoquinoline alkaloids, berberine and β‐hydrastine, were identified as the active constituents, and having an MIC50 of 12.5 and 100.0 µg/ml, respectively. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.