Abstract
Berberine and palmatine are isoquinoline alkaloids contained in “oubaku”, Phellodendri Cortex, and their structures are similar. The Rf values of TLC and the retention times (HPLC) of these compounds are close. Their complete separation is difficult; a small quantity of palmatine chloride exists even in a commercial berberine chloride. Some crystals exist in the Student practice, from gel-type crystals (small needles) to big needles according to the volume of water. These phenomena suggest that a possibility exist to purify berberine chloride only by recrystallization. We recrystallized 3 times crude berberine (10 g, gained from the Student practice) from 140 ml of water per 1 g, and separated pure needles (neally 100%, 2.31 g) which were checked with HPLC.
