Variation of Berberine Content in Coscinium fenestratum Stem in Thailand Market

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. (Menispermaceae), called Hamm in Thai, is a traditional medicine of the northeastern part of Thailand which is recently very popularly used. Its stem is claimed to be effective against several symptoms. The major components in the stem of this plant are isoquinoline alkaloids such as berberine, palmatine, tetrahydropalmatine, crebanine and jatrorrhizine. At present, berberine content in C. fenestratum has not been reported elsewhere. In the present study berberine content in the stem of this plant was examined. Ten samples of the dried stems were purchased from ten different traditional drugstores from various parts of the country. Extracts of these samples were prepared by maceration with 80% ethanol and the berberine content of each sample was determined by TLC- densitometry. Yields of the crude extracts were in the range of 9.87-16.38% dry weight while berberine contents in the dried powder and in the crude extract were in the ranges of 1.71-2.89% w/w and 11.84- 18.45% dry weight, respectively. Thin layer chromatographic fingerprints of each extract showed similar pattern with bands of berberine as the major alkaloid and other minor alkaloids. ©All right reserved.