What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate the anthocyanin content and biological activities of Berberis asiatica fruit.

May 19, 2026Open Access

Anthocyanin-rich Berberis asiatica fruit extract: LC-MS based chemical profiling and evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and molecular docking study

MKManisha KorangaUttarakhand Open University TKTarun KumarUttarakhand Open University NVNishant VermaUniversity of Delhi

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate the anthocyanin content and biological activities of Berberis asiatica fruit.
Crude extracts prepared using varying polarity solvents and characterized by LC-MS/MS and FT-IR.
Antioxidant activity assessed through the DPPH radical scavenging assay and total antioxidant capacity measurement.
Antimicrobial activity tested against bacteria and fungi at 200 µg/mL, along with in silico molecular docking studies.
Eight compounds identified, with total anthocyanin content at 128.72 mg/g, exceeding prior values.
Methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts showed strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 10.13 and 12.56 µg/mL).
Antimicrobial activity revealed significant inhibition zones of 42 mm against E. coli and 41 mm against M. luteus.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the fruit of Berberis asiatica as a potential source of bioactive anthocyanins and to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties with insights into molecular docking studies. Methods: Crude extracts were prepared using solvents of varying polarity and characterized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses. The total anthocyanin content was quantified, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and total antioxidant capacity. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against selected bacterial and fungal strains. Additionally, in silico molecular docking studies were performed to examine ligand-target interactions. Results: LC-MS/MS analysis identified eight compounds, including cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, malvidin-3-O-arabinoside, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, catechin, and epicatechin, indicating a pigment profile dominated by mono- and diglycosylated anthocyanins. The total anthocyanin content was 128.72 mg/g dry fruit, exceeding previously reported values for related species. Methanolic (80% v/v) and hydroalcoholic (50% v/v) extracts showed strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 10.13 and 12.56 µg/mL, respectively), whereas nonpolar fractions were less active. At 200 µg/mL, these extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones up to 42 mm against Escherichia coli and 41 mm against Micrococcus luteus, along with antifungal effects against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Docking studies revealed favorable binding energies (–7.3 to –8.0 kcal/mol) for key compounds against selected microbial and enzymatic targets. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that Berberis asiatica fruit is a rich source of anthocyanin-based pigments with potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These results highlight its potential as a sustainable source of multifunctional bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and therapeutic applications.

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