Berberine chloride occurs together with Neprotine (q.v.) in Berberis insignis Hook, B.
umbellata Wall and Mahonia nepalensis DC. (Syn. Berberis nepalensis Spreng.).
It is optically inactive and crystallizes from H2O with 5.5 H2O. It yields crystal_x0002_line salts, e.g. the nitrate, m.p. 265-7°C (dec.); sulphate, m.p. 271-3°C (dec.)
and the picrate, m.p. 231°C (dec.). The base also furnishes a methyl ether, m.p.
265°C and on catalytic hydrogenation gives the tetrahydro derivative, m.p.
213-5°C (dec.). The ultraviolet spectrum resembles that of berberine (q.v.).
Oxidation with KMn04 in Me2CO gives hemipinic acid, identified as the
ethylimide, m.p. 90°C.
Berberine chloride is mainly used to treat gastroenteritis, dysentery and other intestinal infections, conjunctivitis and suppurative otitis media.
Berberine chloride is an alkaloid with antibiotic properties. Berberine chloride induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inhibits DNA topoisomerase. It has anti-tumor properties.
Orekhov.,J. Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 30,247, (1941)
Chatterjee., ibid, 33,205,210 (1944)
