Impact of ~(60)Co-γ irradiation on the active ingredient from berberine

Different doses of 60Co-gamma-ray were used to irradiate berberine herbs to examine the dissolution rate of hydrochloride berberine as active ingredient.HPLC also was used to determine the impact of irradiation on the chemical composition of berberine herbs by comparing the fingerprint chromatogram of berberine before and after irradiation.The results showed that design capacity of 3.7×1015Bq was taken and below of 40 kGy dose of 60Co-gamma-ray irradiation,there was no significant change in berberine herbs in terms of berberine hydrochloride (P0.05).Fingerprint similarity was above 0.90.Chemical composition was stable,and no irradiation derivative was generated.Accordingly,60Co-gamma-ray irradiation could be as a way to sterilize berberine herbs.