الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was carried out to evaluate some pharmacodynamic and the possible adverse effects of chronic daily administration of 1/10 of the LD50 of Berberine (Berberis vulgaris) for 14 and 90 successive days in male rats. Two groups of male rats (A and B) each of 30 rats were used in this study.
• Rats of group A :
Twenty-five male rats were injected with single daily administration of 1/10 of the LD50 of Berberine at a dose level of 46 mg/kg. b.wt. I/M. once daily for 14 successive days.
• Rats of group B :
The same dose of Berberine was injected once daily for 90 successive days. Two control groups each of 5 rats were kept for each treated group.
Berberine was dissolved in PEG 20% at a dose level of 2ml/kg. b.wt.I/M) for injection. The treated and control rats were sacrificed after 14 days from treatment for group A and after 90 days for group B to obtain blood, semen and some body organs.
At 14th day from the beginning of drug administration (group A) were sacrificed, while (group B) continued administration of the drug up to 90th days from the beginning of the drug administration then sacrificed. All control and treated rats were weighed before being sacrificed. Blood, as well as body organs and epididymal contents, were obtained.
The obtained results are summarized as follows:
1.Hematological findings :
Administration of Berberine for 14 or 90 successive days induced insignificant changes in R.B.Cs count, Hb concentration, PCV %, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, W.B.Cs count, Lymphocytes count, Lymphocytes %, Granulocytes count, Granulocytes %, Mono-cytes count, Monocytes %, Platelets count, MPV, PDW % and PLT % in male albino rats as compared with the control groups of male rats.
2.Biochemical findings :
Berberine induced insignificant changes in ALT, AST, ALP, GGT level, total protein, total albumin, globulin, serum urea, creatinine, uric acid levels, HDL-cholesterol levels, serum lipid peroxidation (MDA) and catalase level, while induced a significant increase in glutathione-S-transferase activity, direct and total Bilirubin-level. But, it induced a significant reduction in blood glucose level, serum Triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total lipids, phospholipids.
3.Effects on index weight of some body organs :
chronic administration of Berberine induced insignificant changes in index weight of liver, kidney, heart, spleen, brain, lung, pre-scapular l.n, testes, epididymis, and accessory sex glands.
4.Effects on semen characters :
chronic administration of Berberine induced a significant increase in total sperm count, progressive sperm motility %, semen Fructose level, semen Quality test, and Serum Testosterone Hormone level. There were insignificant changes in both total sperm abnormalities % and sperm vitality % as compared with the control groups of male rats.
5.Histo-pathological findings :
chronic administration of Berberine induced insignificant changes in the histological structure of liver, kidney, heart, spleen, brain, lung, pre-scapular l.n, testes, epididymis, and accessory sex glands.
These findings are compatible with those recorded by Saleh et al., (2018) They reported that berberine-treated groups had significantly improved sperm count, and morphology as well as significantly increased semen fructose level and testosterone hormone as compared to the induced group while showed normal sperm motility.
7.CONCLUSION
The present study was carried out to evaluate some pharmacodynamic and the possible adverse effects of chronic daily administration of 1/10 of the LD50 of Berberine (Berberis vulgaris) for 14 and 90 successive days in male rats. Two groups of male rats (group A and B) each of 30 rats were used in this study.
The obtained results showed that chronic treatment with Berberine in mature male rats induced slight side effects. These are represented by alterations in blood chemistry such as a decrease in blood glucose level, decrease lipid profile test as lowering cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, phospholipids, total lipids, Triglycerides.
Berberine induced some reproductive changes in semen characters such as increase of sperm count, progressive motility, fructose in semen, semen quality test and increased serum testosterone hormone level.
Berberine increased both total and direct bilirubin levels so, it should be cautioned in pregnancy, jaundiced and neonatal. It also has a potent anti-oxidant activity as it increased glutathione-S- transferase level.
It could be concluded that Berberine is a safe drug. So, it may be of value in cases of diabetes, hyperlipidemic patients, abnormal semen characters. Berberine possesses a protective role in case of hepatic and renal disorders.