China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (7): 3471-3478.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.07.045

• Basic Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

In vitro Antibacterial Effect of Berberine Combined with Antimicrobial Drugs on Escherichia coli of Animal Origin

HUANG Hui, LUO Mengdong, LOU Fei, QI Yutong, PEI Yaling, WANG Xiaolin, PENG Zhifeng, LI Lihong   

  1. College of Animal Medicine, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, China
  • Received:2024-11-17 Online:2025-07-05 Published:2025-07-01

Abstract: 【Objective】 The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the in vitro antibacterial effect of berberine combined with antimicrobial drugs on Escherichia coli of animal origin. 【Method】 The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of berberine and antimicrobial drugs (enrofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,doxycycline,flufenicol and colistin) against 18 strains of Escherichia coli of animal origin were determined by microbroth dilution method.The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of the combination of berberine and antimicrobial drugs was determined by checkerboard dilution method.For FICI≤0.50 drug combination,the time-bactericidal curve was determined to analyze its bacteriostatic dynamics. 【Result】 The resistance rates of 18 strains of Escherichia coli to enrofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,doxycycline,florfenicol,and colistin was 55.56%,55.56%,50.00%,88.89% and 27.78%,respectively.The FICI of berberine combined with enrofloxacin ranged from 0.31 to 2.00,and the synergistic rate was 33.33%.The FICI of berberine combined with ciprofloxacin ranged from 0.31 to 2.00,and the synergistic rate was 27.78%.The FICI of berberine combined with doxycycline ranged from 0.50 to 1.00,and the synergistic rate was 27.78%.The FICI of berberine combined with florfenicol ranged from 0.63 to 0.75,and the synergistic rate was 0.The FICI of berberine combined with colistin ranged from 0.31 to 1.00,and the synergistic rate was 66.67%.The time-sterilization curve showed that 1/2 MIC berberine combined with 1/2 MIC colistin against strains E01 and E06,1/2 MIC berberine combined with 1/2 MIC enrofloxacin against strain E-05,and 1/2 MIC berberine combined with 1/2 MIC doxycycline against strain E-03,the concentration of bacterial solution decreased by more than 2 lg CFU/mL compared with the monotherapy effect at 24 h,showing obvious synergistic effect. 【Conclusion】 The combination of berberine and antimicrobial drugs exhibited varying degrees of synergistic or additive effects on most strains of Escherichia coli,which provided a reference for enhancing the efficacy of antimicrobial drugs in veterinary clinical practice.

Key words: berberine; antimicrobial drugs; minimal inhibit concentration (MIC); fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI)

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