Fundamental Studies on the Evaluation of Crude Drugs. VI. Electron Microscopic Analysis of Crude Drugs. (1). Determination of Berberine in Coptidis Rhizoma

Abstract

This paper describes elementary analysis for biological materials by using a wave dispersive type XMA (X-ray microanalyzer). The wave dispersive analysis was considered to be inadequate for analyzing the elements of biological materials because analytical specimens generally lack any specialized elements incorporated in the materials, and also tend to be damaged and charged at higher accelerating voltage. To overcome these difficulties, the specimens were treated with a reagent which reacted with the materials to be analyzed, and then coated with carbon by vacuum evaporation. Berberine could be analyzed accurately with the wave dispersive XMA after reacting with ammonium reineckate to give a biberberine-Cr-complex, followed by coating with carbon. This method was further applied to determine berberine presented in Coptidis Rhizoma.