title: [Effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on metabolism and berberine content of Coptis chinensis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reveal the response of content berberine in root of Coptis chinensis to different intensity of UV-B radiation, and provide the theory basis for promoting the content of berberine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of UV-B radiation were set in the experiment which included: natural light control (0 W x m(-2)), UL (0.05 W x m(-2)), UM (0.10 W x m(-2)), UH (0.20 W x m(-2)). The special photosynthesis character, PPP pathway in the primary metabolism and lyrosinase activity, the changes of berberine in the root of C. chinensis were measured under different UV-B radiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Photosynthetic pigment, qN, Fo, ETR, activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the content of berberine in the root of C. chinensis, all of these parameters were lower than other groups under the UH radiation. However, under the UM radiation, C. chinensis protected itself from the light UV-B radiation by promoting the power of photosynthesis and PPP pathway in order to produce more NADPH and secondary metabolites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. chinensis increases its photosynthetic ability and PPP pathway which can furnish more precursor of secondary metabolites and NADPH that are needed in the secondary metabolism. Furthermore, the content of berberine increases correspondingly. The research provide the example for increasing the content of berberine in C. chinensis cultivation.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Ecoenvironments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Science, Southwest China University, Chongqing 400715, China.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ruixia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tagn
authors.forename: Nengbiao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001599:Berberine / Q000032:analysis*; D039323:Coptis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine; D009249:NADP; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase