A Sensitive Resonance Scattering Method for the Determination of Trace Berberine Based on Formation of Particles

Abstract

In diluted HCl medium, berberine (BB) cationic ion and I3-combine to BB-I3association complex molecule. These complex molecules self-aggregate to (BB-I3)nassociation nanoparticlees in size of about 50 nm. It exhibits a strongest resonance scattering peak at 520 nm and a fluorescence peak at 470 nm for the nanoparticle system. A novel and sensitive resonance scattering spectral method has been proposed for the determination of trace amounts of BB in the range of 10 to 800 ng/ml, with detection limit of 3ng/ml BB. The method has been applied to the determination of trace berberine in real samples, with satisfactory results.