Quantification of Berberine in different Berberis Species and their Commercial Samples from Herbal Drug Markets of India through HPTLC

Abstract

A simple, precise, and convenient HPTLC method has been established for the analysis of Berberine, the major marker compound extracted from the root and stem of different Berberis species and their commercial samples in the name of Daruharidra. Chromatography was performed on silica gel 60F₂₅₄ plates with n-propanol:water:formic acid (90:8.0:0.4) as mobile phase. Detection and quantification were performed densitometrically at λ_max = 360 nm with berberine as external standard. The method is characterized by high sensitivity and linearity over wide range of concentrations. Berberine concentration in different species and their commercial counterpart were calculated. This will be utilized by pharmaceutical industries for the bioprospection of allied Berberis species for commercial exploitation and batch to batch consistency of raw materials.