Antibacterial activity and ciprofloxacin-potentiation property of Berberis vulgaris asperma stem extracts on pathogenic bacteria

Introduction: This study was planned to search the antibacterial activities of the ethanol and Chloroform extracts of Berberis vulgaris asperma stem and their synergistic effects with ciprofloxacin against some gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Methods: Broth micro-dilution method was used for determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extracts alone or in association with ciprofloxacin and Phenylalanine-Arginine β-Naphtylamide (PAβN) as a positive control and efflux pumps inhibitor (EPI). Results: MIC determination indicated that the extracts from Berberis vulgaris asperma stem were able to inhibit the growth of all the studied bacteria within a concentration range of 3900 to 37500 μg/mL. Synergistic effects were noted between the extracts from Berberis vulgaris asperma stem extracts and ciprofloxacin on all tested bacteria except Acinetobacter bummani. Conclusion: Berberis vulgaris asperma stem extracts act as an antibacterial agent and potentiate ciprofloxacin effects on examined pathogenic bacteria.