Effects of Berberis Vulgaris Hydroethanolic Extract on Serum Bilirubin Levels and Liver Enzymes in Male Cholestatic Rats

Liver disorders are often associated with elevated bilirubin and liver enzymes in blood plasma. In this study the hypobilirubinemic and liver enzymes reducing effects of Berberis vulgaris hydroethanolic extract was investigated. In this experimental study 42 male rats divided randomly in 6 groups: control, sham, cholestatic, cholestatic treated with B. vulgaris extract (300 and 600 mg/kg, i.p, daily for one week) and cholestatic treated with phenobarbital (15 mg/kg, i.p, daily for one week). Cholestasis was induced by ligation of common bile duct using two ligatures and transection the bile duct. After 3 days, the cholestasis animal showed with hyperbilirubinemia. At the end of experiment, animals’ blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and total serum bilirubin level, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and liver enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP) were analyzed. A P<0.05 was considered significant. data showed that B. vulgaris extract has hypobilirubinemic effects on cholestatic animals treated for one week. Also B. vulgaris decreased liver enzymes in cholestatic rats compared with control and phenobarbital groups (P<0.01). The hypobilirubinemic B. vulgaris extract effects might be due to its compositions such as berberine which could have effects on liver to decrease blood bilirubin or increase bilirubin renal excretion.