Isolation and Characterization of a Bacterial Strain Capable of Efficient Berberine Degradation.

Shiyue Liu,Heli Wang,Yonghui Song,Yi Zhang,Ping Zeng,Juan Li

doi:10.3390/ijerph16040646

Abstract

Background: Berberine (BBR) is a pharmaceutical chemical with a broad antibacterial spectrum, and its biological treatment has been of research and practical interest. In this study, a pure bacterial strain B16 was isolated from the activated sludge in a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant. The aim of the study is to characterize the properties of the strain B16, especially its BBR degradation capability. Methods: The identification of strain B16 was conducted by visual observation, as well as biochemical and phylogenetic analysis. The degradation kinetics of strain B16 was tentatively described by Haldane model. Results: The strain B16 was 100% determined as a Sphingopyxis sp. The kinetic parameters of BBR degradation by strain B16 were as follows: Vmax 54.73 ± 5.54 mg (g MLSS · h)−1, Km 66.68 ± 8.95 mg L−1, and Ki 43.16 ± 5.92 mg L−1, with an R2 of 0.996. Stain B16 exhibited considerable capability of BBR degradation. BBR of initial concentration 40 mg L−1 could be completely degraded in 48 h under optimal conditions. Conclusions: strain B16 was the first pure culture found with the ability to totally mineralize BBR, indicating the potential of B16 application in real industrial processes.

Highlights

Berberine (5,6−Dihydro−9,10−dimethoxybenzo [g]−1,3−benzodioxolo [5,6−α] quinolizinium, C20 H18 NO4, BBR in short) is an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid isolated from many kinds of medicinal plants, such as Berberis aristata, Berberis aquifolium, Berberis vulgaris, Coptis chinensis, Coptis japonica, Hydrastis canadensis, Phellodendron amurense, and Phellodendron chinense schneid
The results indicated that strain B16 could utilize chemicals with different properties as the sole carbon and energy source besides BBR, demonstrating its versatility and potential in real applications
Wei et al [23] found that BBR inhibited the growth of various species in genus Candida, including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis, at the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of

Summary

Introduction

Berberine (5,6−Dihydro−9,10−dimethoxybenzo [g]−1,3−benzodioxolo [5,6−α] quinolizinium, C20 H18 NO4 , BBR in short) is an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid isolated from many kinds of medicinal plants, such as Berberis aristata, Berberis aquifolium, Berberis vulgaris, Coptis chinensis, Coptis japonica, Hydrastis canadensis, Phellodendron amurense, and Phellodendron chinense schneid. BBR can be extracted from herbal plants or synthesized by chemical means, and applied as a natural antibiotic against various bacteria [1]. The treatment of BBR in wastewaters, especially those from pharmaceutical processes, is necessary before its discharge into the environment. The common treatment methods of BBR wastewaters include physical, chemical and biological processes. Berberine (BBR) is a pharmaceutical chemical with a broad antibacterial spectrum, and its biological treatment has been of research and practical interest. A pure bacterial strain B16 was isolated from the activated sludge in a pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plant. The aim of the study is to characterize the properties of the strain B16, especially its BBR degradation capability. The kinetic parameters of BBR degradation by strain B16 were as follows: Vmax

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion