Rationalization of Traditional Uses of Berberis lycium in Gastrointestinal Disorders

Aims: Berberis lycium (Sumbal) is abundantly available in the northern areas of Pakistan and extensively used in local practice for the treatment of several human diseases. The objective of this study was to explore pharmacological basis for its use in gastrointestinal disorders.
Materials and Methods: Crude aqueous (Bl.Aq) and methanolic (Bl.Meth) extracts of B. lycium were studied on isolated gut preparations of rabbit (jejunum) and guinea pig (ileum) by using in-vitro techniques. Tissues were mounted in tissue organ baths assembly containing physiological salt (Tyrode's) solution, maintained at 37ºC and aerated with carbogen, to assess the spasmogenic and spasmolytic effect and to find out the possible underlying mechanisms. Responses were measured on BioScience Powerlab data acquisition system by using isotonic transducers.
Results: Phytochemical analysis indicates the presence of alkaloids, tannins and saponins in Bl.Aq and Bl.Meth. when tested on spontaneously contracting isolated rabbit jejunum, showed a dose-dependent spasmogenic effect at lower concentration (0.01-0.1 mg/mL) and (0.01-0.03 mg/mL), which was followed by spasmolytic effect at higher concentration (0.3-1.0 mg/mL) and (0.1-0.3 mg/mL) respectively. Pretreatment of the tissue with atropine (0.1 µM) partially suppressed the contractile effect. Bl.Aq and Bl.Meth caused complete inhibition of high K+ (80 mM)–induced contraction at 0.3 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL respectively and also produced a dose-dependent (0.01-0.03 mg/mL) rightward shift in the Ca++ concentration-response curve, similar to verapamil. When tested in bolus protocol on isolated guinea pig ileum, Bl.Aq and Bl.Meth caused a dose-dependent spasmogenic effect at 0.01-0.1 mg/mL. Pretreatment of tissue with atropine (0.1 µM) partially suppress the contractile effect.
Conclusions: Results indicate that spasmogenic effect was partially mediated through cholinergic activity and spasmolytic effect was mediated through calcium channel blocking activity (CCB), explain its traditional uses in diarrhea, intestinal cramps and other gastrointestinal intestinal disorders.