QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF BERBERINE CONTENT OF BERBERIS ASIATICA FROM DIFFERENT ALTITUDE OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA

Objective: Berberis asiatica is a popular medicinal plant of Garhwal Himalaya and its root is traditionally used for curing various ailments like jaundice, conjunctivitis, and diabetes mellitus. In the present study berberine content in B asiatica growing at seven different altitudes of Garhwal Himalayas was quantitatively determined by HPTLC analysis. Methods: Ethanolic extracts of various plant samples were analyzed with standard berberine (purified) in different concentrations 1-5µl. The peak areas of each standard and test samples were obtained from the system and a calibration graph was plotted between concentrations vs. Peak area. Results: The plant samples belonging to lowest altitude region was found to possess maximum concentration of berberine which was 2.94% however berberine content was non-linearly distributed among the other samples of higher altitudes.Key words: Berberis asiatica, Berberine, quantitative determination, isoquinoline alkaloid, and HPTLC