title: [Analysis of contents of berberine in Coptis chinensis of Lichuan].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the contents of berberine in Coptis chinensis of Lichuan and establish its best cultivation scheme.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the contents of berberine at different altitude, growth age, and leaves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analytic data showed that the growth age and firry woods shading did not affect the contents of berberine in rhizome of Coptis chinensis. Low altitude was more suitable for Coptis chinensis to synthesize berberine. The contents of berberine in rhizome of Coptis chinensis with floral leaf were higher than those with lusterless and lustrous leaves, but no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The synthesis of berberine is closely correlated with shading conditions. It is recommended that the shading ratio should be reduced or the sheds removed in the middle growth age (2-3 years), and then the herb should be reshaped at the last year to enhance the synthesis of berberine, so as to obtain high-quality Coptis chinensis in the harvest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Guozhig@tsinghua.edu.cn
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rui-Qiang
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Su-Qin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Li-Qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001599:Berberine / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D039323:Coptis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017753:Ecosystem; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D013472:Sunlight; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine