Identification and characterization of bioactive compound berberine in the Berberis vulgaris root extract using HR-LC-MS analysis

Abstract

Berberis vulgaris L. is a shrub of family Berberidaceae produces in Asia and Europe. A broad range of medicinally and nutritionally important phytochemical components have been isolated from B. vulgaris, which are of medicinal value. Berberine is the main alkaloid isolated from B. vulgaris. Chromatography was performed on an Acquity UPLC system (Waters) equipped with a HSS T3 column18 using mixture of water (containing 0.1% formic acid) and acetonitrile (30:70 v/v) as mobile phase. The mass spectrometric detection was performed by selected ion monitoring mode via electrospray ionization in the positive ionisation mode. The results indicate that the approximate berberine content in the B. vulgaris root extract, as determined by the proposed method was 0.7266 mg ml-1. The fully validated HR-LC/MS method can be successfully applied for the determination of berberine in B. vulgaris, which can be used as a potent therapeutic agent for the treat of hypopigmentary disorders.