Assays for berberine, its salt forms, dihydroberberine and the alkaloids of goldenseal and goldenthread.
| Tests | Berberine (including materials specified as berberine chloride or berberine hydrochloride), dihydroberberine, goldenseal alkaloids, goldenthread alkaloids, alkaloids as berberine equivalents |
|---|---|
| Method | HPLC, except alkaloids as berberine by UV |
| Results | Reported against your specification or label claim, with pass/fail where limits apply. |
| Price | Quoted per project |
The HPLC assays separate the named alkaloids from the rest of the sample and measure them against reference standards. The UV test measures how strongly the sample solution absorbs light where these alkaloids absorb, and expresses the result as berberine equivalents.
Berberine is a quaternary cation, so it is supplied and specified as a salt, most often the chloride, which is also called berberine hydrochloride. A result can be expressed as the berberine cation or as the specified salt, and on an as-is, anhydrous or dried basis. These give different numbers for the same material, so tell us the basis your specification or label uses.
Measures berberine in raw materials, extracts and supplements by HPLC against a reference standard. Tell us whether your specification states the result as the berberine cation or as a named salt, and on which basis.
Measures berberine by HPLC for materials specified as berberine hydrochloride. The names berberine hydrochloride and berberine chloride are commonly used for the same chloride salt; this entry and the berberine chloride entry are listed separately so you can find the name your specification uses.
Measures berberine by HPLC for materials specified as berberine chloride, the same salt that is also called berberine hydrochloride. Tell us the basis your specification uses.
Measures dihydroberberine, a reduced form of berberine and a different compound, by HPLC. A berberine result does not show dihydroberberine content, and a dihydroberberine result does not show berberine content.
Goldenseal is the dried root and rhizome of Hydrastis canadensis. This HPLC assay measures berberine, hydrastine and palmatine in goldenseal root, powder and extract. The USP dietary supplement monographs for goldenseal set minimum hydrastine and berberine contents that differ between the root and the extract; tell us which specification applies.
Goldenthread (Coptis) contains berberine and related alkaloids. This HPLC assay measures the alkaloid content of goldenthread material; tell us which alkaloids your specification names.
A UV spectrophotometric estimate of alkaloid content, expressed as berberine equivalents. The result reflects the combined absorbance of the sample solution, so other alkaloids and other matrix components that absorb in the same region can affect it. It is not a sum of every alkaloid present, does not identify individual alkaloids and is not a measurement of berberine alone. Use one of the HPLC assays above when a specific alkaloid is needed.
Send the material sealed and labeled.
Tell us the label claim or specification and the form it is stated in. We confirm the sample amount at quote.
Questions about a sample or a method, call 360-967-7010 or email [email protected].
