Optical sensor for berberine utilizing its intrinsic fluorescence enhanced by the formation of inclusion complex with butylated-β-cyclodextrin

An optical sensor for berberine, the basic ingredient of the widely used traditional Chinese medicine Coptis Chinensis, based on its intrinsic fluorescence enhanced by butylated-β-cyclodextrin (HDB-β-CD) immobilized in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane has been developed. The drastic enhancement of fluorescence intensity of berberine was attributed to the formation of an inclusion complex between HDB-β-CD and berberine, which has been utilized as the basis of the fabrication of a berberine-sensitive fluorescence sensor. The proposed sensor was quite distinct from those fluorescent sensors for berberine reported so far which relied upon quenching the fluorescence of the sensing reagent immobilized on membrane by berberine. The response mechanism of optode membrane was discussed in detail from the view of molecular dynamics and the optimum steric configuration of the inclusion complex was presented by molecular dynamics simulation. The analytical performance characteristics of the proposed berberine-sensitive sensor were investigated. The sensor can be applied to the quantification of berberine with a linear range covering from 4.0×10⁻⁷ to 2.0×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.0×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹. The sensor exhibits excellent reproducibility, reversibility and selectivity. The recommended method was successfully used for the determination of berberine in pharmaceutical preparations.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis as a tool for the quality control of goldenseal extracts

The root extracts of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) are popular phytomedicines for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and upper respiratory tract infections. Here we describe a simple and fast capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with ultraviolet detection at 225 nm for the quantification of the major goldenseal constituents, berberine and hydrastine, in herbal remedies containing goldenseal root extracts. Tritoqualine, an antihistaminic drug with a hydrastine-like phthalidisoquinoline structure, was applied as an internal standard. The running buffer was a 1:5 mixture of 500 mM ammonium acetate (adjusted to pH 3.4 with acetic acid) and methanol. Our newly developed CZE method was validated regarding limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification, linearity, accuracy and precision. For both berberine and hydrastine, the LOD was 1.0 microg/mL and the linearity was obtained between 2.5 and 500 microg/mL. Using our newly developed method, both the alkaloids could be analysed in herbal remedies containing goldenseal root extracts within 8 min.     

表面增强拉曼光谱研究小檗碱与DNA的相互作用

用表面增强拉曼光谱研究了小檗碱（BER）与小牛胸腺DNA（ct DNA)的相互作用,并对重要谱峰进行了归属。在Ag胶体系中,小檗碱分子的拉曼信号增强显著,表明小檗碱阳离子键合到银胶粒子的表面。加入ct NA之后,小檗碱分子的大部分SERS带的强度进一步增加,而仅有少数几个带的信号强度趋于消失,可能是小檗碱分子的异喹啉部分键合到DNA的小沟槽,小檗碱与DNA的相互作用模式主要是通过静电力及疏水相互作用,吸收光谱表明,Ag胶体系的存在并未改变小檗碱分子与DNA的相互作用模式。     

Capillary zone electrophoretic studies of interactions of some quaternary isoquinoline alkaloids with DNA constituents and DNA

Capillary zone electrophoresis was applied for the investigation of interactions of some quaternary isoquinoline alkaloids, namely sanguinarine, chelerythrine, berberine, and jatrorrhizine, with DNA constituents and with DNA. None of these alkaloids attach covalently to nucleotides or to the whole DNA under physiological conditions. The interaction with DNA constituents is a noncovalent complexation based on weak intermolecular forces. Electrostatic attraction participates in the interaction but other types of intermolecular forces are involved as well. Cations were identified as the most probable interacting forms of the alkaloids. The interaction with compounds derived from purine was always stronger than those derived from pyrimidine. All alkaloids behaved analogously and similarly to ethidium bromide, the classic DNA intercalator. Stability constants K (in l.mol(-1)) for sanguinarine and chelerythrine in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 (I(S) = 30 mM) ranged from tens to hundreds.     

Study of the interactions of berberine and daunorubicin with DNA using alternating penalty trilinear decomposition algorithm combined with excitation-emission matrix fluorescence data

Studies of interactions between drugs and DNA are very interesting and significant not only in understanding the mechanism of interaction, but also for guiding the design of new drugs. However, until recently, mechanisms of interactions between drug molecules and DNA were still relatively little known. It is necessary to introduce more simple methods to investigate the mechanism of interaction. In this study, the interactions of daunorubicin (DNR) or berberine (BER) with DNA and the competitive interactions of DNR and BER with DNA have been studied by alternating penalty trilinear decomposition algorithm (APTLD) combined with excitation-emission matrix fluorescence data. The excitation and emission spectra as well as the relative concentrations of co-existing species in different reaction and equilibrium mixtures can be directly and conveniently obtained by the APTLD treatment. The results obtained are valuable for providing a deeper insight into the interaction mechanism of DNR and BER with DNA. It is proved that the fluorescence spectrum of complex DNR-DNA is different from that of DNR. Furthermore, the present method provides a new way to search for a new non-toxic, highly efficient fluorescent probe. For controversial interaction mechanism of the drugs and DNA, it can provide a helpful verification.     

黄连不同提取物的红外光谱研究

中药提取物是传统中药融合现代制药技术的新型产品,具有广泛的国际市场。建立快速、有效的分析方法有助于中药提取物的实时质量监控。文章利用傅里叶变换红外光谱技术(FT-IR)对黄连药材、水提物和醇提物作了研究。结果表明：黄连药材及其提取物有着各自稳定的光谱特征,谱图中位于1 505 cm-1的芳环骨架振动峰是判断盐酸小檗碱在不同黄连样品中含量高低的主要依据,而相应的二阶导数谱图可以大大提高原始谱图的分辨率。黄连药材经过提取,以小檗碱为代表的主要活性成分得到有效富集,两种提取物中小檗碱的含量明显增高;黄连醇提物中小檗碱的含量又明显高于其水提物。FTIR能够简便、快速地提供中药提取物中主要化学成分的定性与半定量信息,从而为后续的化学成分分析和中药提取分离工艺的改进提供有效参考。     

Characterization of 10 species ofMahonia by capillary electrophoresis

Summary A simple, rapid and effective capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the characterization of 10 different species ofMahonia. A fingerprint of the extract of each species was constructed using a mixed buffer of borate and phosphate, containing methanol, pH 8.0. The effective electrophoretic mobility and % normalized area of each peak in electrophoregrams were evaluated to characterize various species. Three alkaloids: berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine were found in all 10 species. The CE technique appears to provide a powerful tool for the identification and quality control of plant drugs.     

HPLC determination of berberine in plasma of patients with ischemic heart failure

Summary Berberine absorption by patients with ischemic heart failure (IHF) after oral administration and the relationship between clinical effect and plasma berberine concentration are studied. Plasma samples were pretreated by chloroform extraction. Berberine was determined on a μBondapak column with acetonitrile-phosphoric acid mobile phase and UV detection. The limit for berberine in plasma was 8 ng mL⁻¹ for an injection volume of 50 μL. Average berberine recovery was 96.5%. Results showed that improvements in symptoms were more significant for patients with plasma berberine concentration>0.1 mg L⁻¹ than for those with<0.1 mg L⁻¹. Plasma berberine monitoring may be helpful in the treatment of patients with IHF.     

小檗碱与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的光谱研究

利用紫外光谱和荧光光谱研究了中药有效成分小檗碱与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用机制。利用荧光猝灭反应测得它们之间结合常数K=1.49×105L/mol,结合位点数n=9.77,依据F rster非辐射能量转移机制,测得供体 受体间结合距离R=3.09nm和能量转移效率E=0.443。认为小檗碱在BSA的位置阻断了酪氨酸残基与色氨酸残基之间的能量转移,导致BSA的荧光猝灭。     

分光光度法测定黄瓜籽粉中盐酸小檗碱的含量

采用超声波法在2种条件下即(1)先超声处理,后放置过夜;(2)先放置过夜,后超声处理,对黄瓜籽粉中盐酸小檗碱进行提取,利用分光光度法测定盐酸小檗碱的含量,检测波长为426nm。回归方程y=0.00393+1.28929x(mg/10mL),r=0.9999;盐酸小檗碱浓度在0.099—0.796mg/10mL范围内与吸光度呈线性关系。2种方法的平均含量分别为2.4043、1.4797mg/g。平均回收率分别为94.96%、107.32%。实验结果表明,方法(1)较方法(2)提取率高。分光光度法用于黄瓜籽粉中盐酸小檗碱的含量测定,简便,可靠,快捷。