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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications
Published on: August 4, 2018
Antibacterial in vitro effects of preparations from Anthroposophical Medicine
Eva Roser1, Carsten Gründemann1, Inge Engels2
1Center for Complementary Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Background:
Medications from Anthroposophical Medicine (AM) are clinically used for the treatment of infections within a whole medical system but have not yet been evaluated regarding antibacterial effects. The aims of this study was to investigate antibacterial activity of AM medications in cell culture.
Methods:
Screening of AM drug registers for preparations used to treat any kind of infection and being available in dilutions ≤ D2 and without alcoholic content. Selected medications were screened for antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the agar diffusion method. For antimicrobial active preparations growth kinetics (drop plate method) and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC, macrodilution method) were determined.
Results:
Thirty-three preparations matched the selection criteria and were chosen for own experiments. One of them (Berberis Decoctum D2) exhibited bactericidal activities against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin resistant strains. The MIC could be determined as 5 mg/ml. The effects could be related to the content of berberine in the extract. No activity towards gram-negative bacteria was found. The other tested extracts had no antibacterial effects.
Conclusion:
Berberis Decoctum D2 which is used in AM to treat infections exhibits bactericidal effects on Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin resistant strains.
Insights
Anthroposophical Medicine preparation Berberis Decoctum D2 shows antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, including resistant strains. Further research is needed to explore its potential in treating bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Complementary Medicine
Background:
- Anthroposophical Medicine (AM) preparations are used for infections but lack scientific evaluation of antibacterial properties.
- This study aimed to assess the antibacterial activity of AM medications in a laboratory setting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro antibacterial effects of selected Anthroposophical Medicine preparations.
- To identify specific AM medications with potential antibacterial activity against common pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Screened AM drug registers for non-alcoholic preparations (≤D2) used for infections.
- Tested selected medications against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using agar diffusion.
- Determined growth kinetics and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for active preparations.
Main Results:
- Thirty-three AM preparations were screened; only Berberis Decoctum D2 showed significant antibacterial activity.
- Berberis Decoctum D2 exhibited bactericidal effects against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Berberis Decoctum D2 was 5 mg/ml, with effects attributed to berberine content; no activity against Gram-negative bacteria was observed.
Conclusions:
- Berberis Decoctum D2, an Anthroposophical Medicine preparation, demonstrates bactericidal effects against Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA.
- The findings support the traditional use of Berberis Decoctum D2 for infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
- Further investigation into the active compound berberine and its mechanisms against Gram-positive bacteria is warranted.
