Antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract of barberry fruit [Berberis vulgaris] in the guinea- pig ileum

ABSTRACT

Barberry [Berberris vulgaris] is a well known medicinal plant in Iran and has also been used as food. This study was conducted to evaluate antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract of barberry fruit. Methanolic extract was prepared and pharmacologically studied on isolated guineapig ileum, dose- response curves of histamine and acetylcholine with and without methanolic extract were plotted. The pA[2] values for antihistaminic activity of methanolic extract and dexchlorpheniramine were calculated [extract; pA[2] +/- S.E.M = 3.53 +/- 0.16 [-logC[g/l]]; dexchlorpheniramine; pA[2] +/- S.E.M.= 9.36 +/- 0.14 [[-logC [M]] and compared with each other. The pA[2] values of anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract and atropine were also calculated [extract; pA[2] +/- S.E.M = 4.18 +/- 0.17 [-logC[g/1]]; atropine, PA[2] +S.E.M = 8.99 +/- 0.13 [-logC[M]] and compared. The results indicated antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity of methanolic extract