EXTRACTION, ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION, SEMISYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF BERBERINE FROM ROOTS OF BERBERIS ARISTATA

A methanolic extract of roots of Berberis aristata was prepared by using hot percolation method. Berberine was isolated from the above extract and characterized by IR, 1HNMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. A series of 8-(substituted acetophenone) berberine derivatives was synthesized by introducing various acetophenone derivatives at 8th position of berberine and analyzed by melting point and TLC. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1HNMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The semisynthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity using disc (5mm) diffusion method on nutrient agar medium against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and fungal strains (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) respectively. The zone of inhibition was compared with standard drugs berberine and kanamycin. All the above compounds showed significant activity in comparison to the standards berberine and kanamycin.