Evaluation of HPLC and Spectrophotometric Methods for Analysis of Bioactive Constituent Berberine in Stem Extracts of Coscinium fenestratum

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric methods were developed for analysis of berberine, the principal bioactive constituent, in Coscinium fenestratum extracts. The HPLC and UV spectrophotometric determinations were performed at 226, 270, and 340 nm. The methods were validated by assessing linearity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy. HPLC detection was found to be more effective than spectrophotometric determinations. The content of berberine determined by HPLC method at detection wavelengths of 270 and 340 nm was found to be higher as compared to the value obtained at wavelength of 226 nm. The content of berberine determined by HPLC ranged from 0.98 to 0.99 (%w/w) in the methanol extract, 0.85 to 0.88 (%w/w) in the methanol-water (1: 1) extract, and 0.24 to 0.25 in the water extract.