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Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) as a tool for helping with Infection (general)
Antimicrobial (berberine) - supports skin and mucosal infection
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Mahonia aquifolium stem-bark crude extract and its alkaloids berberine and jatrorrhizine inhibited staphylococci, Propionibacterium acnes and Candida from skin and mucosal infections, providing a rational basis for the traditional use of Oregon grape for localised skin and mucosal infections.
2 sources supporting Oregon Grape for Infection (general). Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's antimicrobial action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Berberine, the main protoberberine alkaloid of Mahonia aquifolium, showed broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts, characterising the antimicrobial basis of Oregon grape.
A Mahonia aquifolium extract and its alkaloids berberine chloride and oxyacanthine sulphate showed bactericidal activity against nine oral bacteria, most notably Porphyromonas gingivalis, characterising the antimicrobial activity of Oregon grape relevant to oral infections.
Mahonia aquifolium stem-bark extract and its protoberberine alkaloid jatrorrhizine inhibited dermatophytes and Candida species, supporting the antifungal use of Oregon grape for skin and mucosal fungal infections.