Background: Aflatoxins are harmful mycotoxins that can contaminate animal and human food products. To prevent toxigenic fungi growth and aflatoxin production, researchers have long investigated plant compounds as potential inhibitory agents.Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effect of BERBERINE sulfate and BERBERINE chloride on the growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.Methods: The antifungal activity of BERBERINE salts was determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) document M38-A3. The aflatoxin levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.Results: The BERBERINE sulfate and BERBERINE chloride showed inhibitory effects against both Aspergillus species, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 125 to 500 µg/mL. BERBERINE sulfate at 2000 μg/mL and BERBERINE chloride at 1000 μg/mL completely inhibited the mycelial growth of A. flavus, while BERBERINE chloride at 1000 μg/mL also completely inhibited the mycelial growth of A. parasiticus. BERBERINE sulfate at 2000 µg/mL reduced the mycelial growth of A. parasiticus by 96.7%. Conclusion: BERBERINE salts significantly decreased the total aflatoxin production of Aspergillus species at MIC/2 and MIC/4 concentrations (P˂0.05). The results suggest that BERBERINE salts could be used as potential antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic agents against toxigenic Aspergillus isolates.

Objective: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that are usually used for treatment of epilepsy have substantial side effects and about 30% of patients continue to have seizures with current AEDs therapy. Some herbs which traditionally used in the management of seizures of many rural areas of the developing countries have shown anticonvulsant activity in modern pharmacological bioassays. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of BERBERINE, an alkaloid from Berberis vulgaris, on seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in rats.Material and Methods: Rats (n=6-7) received BERBERINE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.), diazepam (4mg/kg, i.p. as positive control), and vehicle (saline) and then 30 min later PTZ (110mg/kg, i.p.) were injected. Behavioral responses of the animals to PTZ administration were evaluated using these criteria: latency to first minimal clonic seizure (MCS), incidence of MCS, latency to the first generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS), incidence of GTCS, protection against GTCS and mortality.Results: Intraperitoneal administration of lower doses of BERBERINE (100 and 200 mg/kg) had no significant effects on minimal clonic seizures (MCS) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) latencies, while injection of 400 mg/kg caused significant increase in both MCS and GTCS latencies (p<0.05). In this study diazepam, (4 mg/kg) 30 min prior to PTZ, significantly increased GTCS latency. BERBERINE at tested doses had no protection against mortality following PTZ administration.Conclusion: It can be concluded that BERBERINE at high doses could be a useful protective agent in PTZ-induced epileptic seizures in rats.