Complete spectral analysis of berberine, a key compound in Vietnamese traditional remedy “Đại tràng hoàn Bà Giằng”

Abstract

The traditional herbal remedy “Đại tràng hoàn Bà Giằng,” attributed to the renowned herbalist Bà Giằng, has been widely used in Vietnam for over a century, particularly for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and diarrhea. In this study, dried herbal materials were extracted using 70% ethanol, resulting in an extract known as DTBG. Berberine, a key alkaloid in DTBG, was isolated using silica gel column chromatography. Its structure was elucidated through comprehensive spectral analyses, including UV-Vis, FT-IR, EI-MS, and 1D/2D-NMR techniques. This report provides a detailed discussion of berberine’s spectral data, contributing valuable insights into the chemistry of this compound.