• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.32 no.1 s.124
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2001

The effects of protoberberine compounds on serotonin biosynthesis in P815 cells were investigated. Protoberberine compounds such as berberine, palmatine and coralyne decreased serotonin content dose-dependently, but coptisine did not. The $IC_{50}$ values of berberine, palmatine and coralyne were $3.0\;{\mu}M,\;16.5\;{\mu}M\;and\;14.5\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Protoberberine compounds at concentrations up to $20\;{\mu}M$ were not cytotoxic towards P815 cells. The activity of tryptophan hydroxylase, a ratelimiting enzyme in serotonin biosynthesis, was inhibited by the exposure of berberine, palmatine and coralyne in P815 cells (14.9-19.3% inhibition at $2-15\;{\mu}M$), but that of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase was not. These results suggest that the inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase activity by berberine, palmatine and coralyne might partially contribute to the decrease in serotonin content in P815 cells.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.32-35
• /
• 2007

Cyclodextrin is a cyclic oligosaccharid material which shows an ability to incorporate organic guest molecules inside their cavity area. Thus, this ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ treatment on fiber substrates may provide the changed surface characteristics of the substrates such as solubility, chemical reactivity and spectral property. In this context, the aim of this present work is to make a bridge connection using hetero-bi-functional reactive dye between fiber substrates and ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$. In addition, the corresponding Berberine inclusion behaviors into the inner cavity of ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ was examined. The %exhaustion of Berberine inclusion as a guest molecule within the ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ was measured using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The findings showed that the %exhaustion of Berberine inclusion increased with increasing the prepared dye bridge compound and ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ host material.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.839-848
• /
• 2018

Coptis chinensis (CC) is widely used in Asian countries to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous fraction separated from CC extract and of berberine, its key bioactive component, in human keratinocytes and the possible molecular mechanisms underlying this. Treating HaCaT keratinocytic cells with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes induced nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokine (e.g., tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, and IL-8) production and their mRNA expression; these effects were suppressed by pretreatment with the aqueous fraction or berberine, which also suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 kinases and the nuclear expression of nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ p65 in P. acnes-stimulated cells. Thus, the aqueous fraction and berberine effectively exerted anti-inflammatory activities by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways in human keratinocytes and may be used for treating P. acnes-induced inflammatory skin diseases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.1559-1563
• /
• 2004

The topoisomerase II poisoning effect of certain protoberberine alkaloids is associated with anti-cancer activity. Structure-activity relationships of protoberberine analogues substituted on the ring protons reveal that substitution at the C19 position is an important determinant of biological activity. In this study, the effects of substituent modification at the C19 position on the interaction of protoberberines with DNA are determined using UV and NMR spectroscopy. The line broadening effect on aliphatic resonances, chemical shift changes of the imino protons of HP14 upon berberine and berberrubine binding to HP14, and the rate of the exchange process between protoberberine analogs bound indicate that berberrubine binds HP14 more specifically than berberine. In addition, the free HP14 is altered by the substituent at the 19-position. UV spectra of berberrubine have shown a hypochromic effect together with a slight red shift, which are usually regarded as characteristics of DNA intercalation. These results are consistent with our previous report that the berberrubine is partially intercalated with HP14 with molar ratio 1 : 1, whereas a non-specific interaction is predominant between the berberine and HP14.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1327-1333
• /
• 2006

Many traditional herbal remedies exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-inflammation. Panax notoginseng Buck F.H. Chen. is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promote health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharrnacokinetic profiles of the main P. notoginseng are still not accurately investigated. The exact mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of P. notoginseng, however, has not been determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of P. notoginseng on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results indicated that P. notoginseng concentration-dependently inhibited LPS-induced NO production. Furthermore, P. notoginseng inhibited the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 proteins without an appreciable cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. Berberine also inhibited LPS-induced iNOS protein as potently as P. notoginseng. This was consistent with the findings that P. notoginseng and also berberine inhibited prostaglandin E2 synthesis induced by LPS.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.56-60
• /
• 2019

Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) has been used widely in traditional medicine to treat common diseases. This study aimed to develop a high-sensitivity liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC-MS) spectrometry method for the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of a new natural product that contain CR extract with the main bioactive compound, berberine, at trace concentrations. Human plasma samples were pretreated with methanol by a protein precipitation method. Berberine was analyzed on a Kinetex C18 column ($2.1mm{\times}50mm$, $100{\AA}$, $1.7{\mu}m$) using a mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium formate/0.1% formic acid in water (A) and acetonitrile (B) (50:50, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The analyte was detected by using electrospray ionization in positive mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The method was sensitive, with a lower limit of quantification of 1 pg/mL, which has not been previously obtained. The method was validated (over the range of 1-50 pg/mL) and applied successfully for the pharmacokinetic study of human plasma samples.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.196-201
• /
• 1987

A study was carried out to investigate the possibility of acclimation of Coptis japonica Makino in Korea. Coptis japonica could be grown within 4 years as a medicinal crude drug if it is cultivated in the area of mountain facing north(300m above sea level) with 70% light interception and appropriate soil texture. It is to be noted that the propagation of the plant is more important than the yield of berberine because the berberine contents do not change in different conditions. The results were as follows; 1. The germination rates of the seeds by covering with the pine tree leaves were the highest and averaged 63%. 2. The germination rates of dry seeds were not affected in spite of low temperature and $GA_3$ treatment. 3. The germination rates of the seeds stored in moistured sand were averaged 85%, but in dry state, they were not germinated. 4. The number of leaves and fresh weight of Coptis japonica from the area of mountain facing north were increased significantly. 5. The growth and fresh weight of Coptis japonica were reduced in clay. 6. The best growth was obtained under 70% light interception. It is possible to intercrop between evergreen trees. 7. The foliage dressing did not affect the growth. 8. The number of leaves and fresh weight were increased from the 3rd year, and the average weight of rhizomes was 5.7g in 4th year. 9. The berberine contents of the rhizomes of Coptis japonica under various treatment conditions ranged from 9 to 10%. Coptidis Rhizoma from this study and from Korean market showed much higher berberine contents than those from Japanese market.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 1997

Precipitation was formed during the preparation of decoction from a mixture of Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma. Baicalin and berberine were identified in this coprecipitated product (CPP) and these components were the active ingredients of two herbal medicine. We extracted respectively crude baicalin and berberine in Scutellariae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma and prepared coprecipitate of crude baicalin-berberine. To increase the stability and bioavailability of coprecipitate of crude baicalin-berberine(CBB), which is slightly soluble drug, its inclusion complex was prepared and studied in this experiment. Inclusion complex of CBB with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin(CBB-{\beta}-CD)$ was prepared by freeze drying method and its characteristics were ascertained by means of solubility test, differential thermal analysis(DTA) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The type of $CBB-{\beta}-CD$ is classified as $A_L-type$ on phase solubility diagram, and the stoichiometric ratio of CBB(baicalin in CBB) : ${\beta}-CD$ complex is 1:1 and formation constant is 151 $M^-1$. The solubility, dissolution, in situ absorption and serum concentration of $CBB-{\beta}-CD$ were significantly increased when compared to CBB. Therefore enhanced bioavailability of CBB by inclusion complexation with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ might be useful for dosage form design of active ingredients of two herbal medicine.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 1997

This study was conducted to test antifungal activity and to separate bioactive compound using C. japonica extract which was shown the most effective control on the B. berengeriana, G. cingulata and P. expansum. $EC_{50}$ on the test pathogene of C. japonica extract was $400{\sim}500{\mu}g/mL$. Bioactive compound analyzed by TLC and HPLC method was identified as a kind of alkaloids, berberine, and the content was 81.14%.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.19-23
• /
• 2006

Berberis chitria (family Berberidaceae) has a close affinity with B. aristata, used in traditional systems of medicine as a drug 'Daruharidra' for skin disease, jaundice, affection of eyes, and rheumatism. Keeping this in view, in the present study attempts have been made to identify marker characters of B. chitria in order to differentiate the two species. Some of the diagnostic features of the root are patches of pericyclic fibre, pitted sclerieds and berberine containing cells and heterocyclic medullary rays. Besides, the physicochemical characters such as total ash; acid insoluble ash; alcohol and water soluble extractive; tannins; sugar and starch percentages has shown variations. The percentage of berberine as berberine hydrochloride was also calculated through HPTLC densitometric method and it was found little higher than B. aristata and B. asiatica i.e. 3.16%. Thus, this species can be utilized as a possible substitute to Daruharidra.