Anthocyanin Isolation from Berberis integerrima Bunge Fruits and Determination of their Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

Background: Anthocyanins are famous members of flavonoid group with multifaceted effect including anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema activities, antioxidant and antitumor activity. Berberis integerrima is candidate in treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, bleeding, fever, malaria and hepatitis. The aim of this study is to isolate anthocyanin of Berberis integerrima Bunge fruits (AFBI) and measurement of free-radical-scavenging activities by different methods. Materials and Methods: AFBI isolated by column chromatography. Anthocyanin content was measured by PH-differential method and antioxidant activities of AFBI quantified by various methods (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS) as well as lipid peroxidation. Results: Anthocyanin content is 14.36 ± 0.33 mg/g before purification by column and 34.51 ± 0.42 mg/g in AFBI. IC₅₀ of anthocyanin fraction before loading on column are 471.06 ± 1.8 μg/ml, 65.98 ± 0.66 μg/ml and 495.5 ± 1 μg/ml for DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assay, respectively. These IC₅₀ after loading on column are 66 ± 0.04 μg/ml, 11 ± 0.16 and 60 ± 2.1 μg/ml for DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assay, respectively. Nitric oxide scavenging values are 53 ± 0.5% and 97.04 ± 0.69% before and after using column for anthocyanin purification. The percentages of lipid peroxidation inhibition of AFBI are about 39% in first day and 95% after 10 days. Conclusion: According to results, mentioned method is efficient for anthocyanin purification and antioxidant activity increased significantly after loading sample on this column. Berberis integerrima fruits can be noticed as proper source of anthocyanin which able to scavenge different free radicals and protective agent against lipid peroxidation.