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Berberine Sulfate: Deep Dive Into a Golden Alkaloid

Historical Development

Berberine sulfate carries a legacy that stretches back far before lab coats and mass spectrometry. In regions stretching from North Africa and the Middle East to Asia, traditional healers drew rich yellow extracts from barberry, goldenseal, and tree turmeric. They valued berberine for its visible anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Chinese medicine scriptures written on bamboo slips describe yellow root compounds soothing digestive issues and infections. By the early 20th century, Western science isolated berberine and explored its chemical relatives. Researchers found the sulfate salt form offered improved water-solubility compared to free base, making it easier for oral and topical use. I remember finding dusty herbal compendia in a secondhand bookstore; even generations ago, people intuitively trusted those yellow powders. The story of this molecule stands as a bridge between roots-and-vessels empiricism and today’s controlled clinical trial standards.

Product Overview

Berberine sulfate crystallizes into a bright, distinctive yellow powder with a strong, slightly bitter taste. It forms by combining berberine, the main alkaloid extracted from genera like Berberis, with sulfuric acid to produce a stable salt. The resulting compound is versatile: commonly found as both a bulk powder for supplement capsules and pressed tablets, or dissolved in tinctures for topical solutions. I’ve handled crude berberine extract in labs, and the sulfate form always stood out for purity, lacking the smudgy green hints that betray unrefined material. Labels list berberine sulfate with distinct purity ranges—pharmaceutical lots claim over 98% berberine content, whereas some OTC supplements contain blends with plant powders. Many berberine products reference the sulfate salt for its higher absorbability and shelf-life.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Structurally, berberine sulfate forms needle-like crystals, showing resilience under moderate heat and light. In water, it dissolves readily, better than unmodified berberine chloride or free alkaloid forms. The molecular backbone belongs to the isoquinoline alkaloids, showing a fused tetracyclic structure with methylenedioxy bridges that contribute to its signature color and strong UV absorbance at around 345 nm. The melting point, around 220°C (decomposition), keeps berberine sulfate stable for ordinary handling, yet storage in dark, dry conditions prevents minor degradation. With a molecular formula of C20H18NO4S, it weighs in at approximately 384 g/mol. It resists hydrolysis at neutral pH, though strong acid or base treatments will slowly degrade the sulfate. Many practitioners praise its ability to persist in solution without precipitating, a property that helps in oral suspension formulations.

Technical Specifications & Labeling

Any compliant label for berberine sulfate lists the chemical formula, minimum berberine content (often 97%-102%, tested by HPLC), and source plant. Reputable suppliers print batch numbers and manufacturing dates, because shelf life runs around 24 months sealed at ambient temperature. USP and EP monographs lay down particle size standards, often requiring at least 90% pass through a 100-mesh sieve, helping prevent gritty suspensions. Heavy metals, microbial contaminants, and alkaloid content limits direct batch release. For pharmaceuticals, auxiliary excipients—stabilizers, flow agents, and binders—also get listed, since these influence patient safety. In the supplement space, the label sometimes features colorful badges for “vegan” or “non-GMO,” but purity of the sulfate salt trumps branding, in my book, when selecting a reliable source.

Preparation Method

Extraction of berberine for making the sulfate salt typically begins with dried bark or root from Berberis aristata or similar species. Industrial producers mash and soak plant material in heated water or diluted ethanol, separating crude extract rich in berberine and minor alkaloids. After filtration, addition of sulfuric acid converts isolated berberine into its sulfate form, which precipitates from solution upon cooling. Final purification uses repeated recrystallization, followed by vacuum drying. Labs rely on silica gel column chromatography for the last polish, removing unreacted plant pigments and minor alkaloids. Each process batch gets weighed and documented, often with TLC or HPLC confirmation. What surprises many is the eco-friendliness of the extraction: barberry is hardly an endangered species, so sustainability comes from limiting chemical runoff, careful use of solvents, and recycling water. Manufacturers focusing on organic certification avoid petrochemical solvents, relying on green extraction protocols.

Chemical Reactions & Modifications

In a chemistry environment, berberine sulfate acts fairly robust, retaining its integrity when dissolved in water or ethanol. Minor modifications, such as methylation at certain ring positions, produce derivatives with altered pharmacology—useful mainly in experimental work. At high temperatures or extreme pH, the molecule can degrade into demethylene or oxidized byproducts, reducing its biological activity. Sulfate removal, catalyzed by base, yields the free berberine alkaloid, though these conditions rarely appear in standard applications. Interactions with reducing agents or with strong acids can break down the aromatic system, forming colorless fragments. I’ve tested its basic reactivity: even when exposed to mixtures mimicking stomach acid, berberine sulfate retains much of its parent structure, implying reliable oral dosing. All chemical modification must account for the delicate balance: new derivatives can promise higher effects, but too bold an alteration risks losing the original’s multi-target biological action.

Synonyms & Product Names

Berberine sulfate appears under numerous synonyms and product names. Alongside its systematic IUPAC designation, the compound crops up as “Berberine Sulphate,” “Berbex,” “Yellow Root Sulfate,” and “Berbamine Sulfate.” On supplement bottles, labels often list it simply as "Berberine (from sulfate)" or “Natural Berberine Sulfate Extract.” Pharmaceutical formularies might code it as “C20H18NO4S·xH2SO4”. In industry trade sheets, short forms like "BSF" or "BBS" convey the same salt. Recognizing all these aliases matters, since some suppliers conflate berberine chloride or free berberine with the sulfate variant—misleading clinical users who expect specific solubility and bioavailability from berberine sulfate.

Safety & Operational Standards

Handling berberine sulfate, even on a commercial scale, poses mild risks compared to many alkaloids. Standard operating procedures require gloves and face masks, as inhalation of dust provokes throat and eye irritation in sensitive people. NIOSH and OSHA set exposure guidelines, capping allowable dust concentrations, though actual toxicity remains low. Chronic overexposure—seen rarely in workers using low-tech extraction—can prompt mild allergic dermatitis or, at high ingestion doses, minor hepatic enzyme elevation. Packaging must use pharmaceutical-grade HDPE or glass, since the yellow pigment slowly stains porous plastic. Transport companies rate it as a non-hazardous bulk chemical, exempt from stringent flammable or reactive goods regulations. I’ve seen product recalls traced to lax microbial controls, so reliable producers always confirm sterility and screen for heavy metals leached from plant material. FDA and EMA guidance ask for full traceability, childproof packaging for capsules, and clear adverse reaction reporting channels.

Application Area

Pharmacies and natural health shops carry berberine sulfate as an ingredient for regulating blood sugar, supporting cholesterol management, and easing minor infections. In China and India, berberine forms the backbone of over-the-counter remedies for gastrointestinal distress: loose bowels and mild dysentery, where its antibacterial edge really shines. Dermatology clinics sometimes apply diluted solutions as a yellow wound wash, noting good wound healing with less irritation than harsh antiseptics. Research hospitals test berberine sulfate as part of combination therapies tackling metabolic syndrome, PCOS, and even neurological inflammation. The supplement industry markets berberine sulfate for its support of healthy glucose metabolism, an effect confirmed both by ancient empiricism and by current clinical data. Not all uses come with medical approval: patients with jaundice or newborns prone to G6PD deficiency should avoid it, as even small doses can aggravate hemolytic risk.

Research & Development

Innovation centers keep pumping out new data on berberine sulfate. Large meta-analyses now aggregate dozens of randomized trials—pointing to significant anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering effects, sometimes on par with low-dose metformin or statins. By acting on AMPK pathways, berberine influences cell metabolism, reducing inflammatory signals while increasing insulin sensitivity. Research into synthetic derivatives aims to enhance absorption, often using nanoparticles or phospholipid complexes to overcome berberine’s mediocre oral uptake. Lab studies also probe new applications, such as antimicrobial coatings and support for cognitive performance in early-stage neurodegeneration. A fascinating thread pursues berberine’s anti-cancer properties: at high enough concentrations, it slows cell replication and prompts apoptosis in certain tumor lines. Animal tests support safety at dosing consistent with human clinical use, though differences in metabolism between species always temper direct translation of these results.

Toxicity Research

Toxicological assessments put berberine sulfate in a generally safe zone for short-term use. Doses up to 1500 mg daily, given over several months, produce no organ toxicity in healthy adults. Animal models show LD50 values much higher than clinical dosing, supporting a strong safety margin. Some users report gastrointestinal discomfort—mostly nausea or loose stools—which often wanes after a week or two. In pregnancy or during early infancy, berberine crosses the placenta and poses risks for kernicterus in jaundiced infants, so medical guidelines recommend strict avoidance. Chronic use can slightly influence liver enzyme activity, though true hepatotoxicity remains undocumented in the absence of prior disease. Detailed mutagenicity and carcinogenicity studies show no genetic damage down to nanomolar levels. Long-term surveillance calls for vigilance, since rare allergic or idiosyncratic liver dysfunction could emerge with broad and unsupervised use, especially as supplement sales outstrip traditional medical oversight.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, I see berberine sulfate advancing from botanical supplement aisles to more formally regulated pharmaceuticals. The ongoing challenge—bioavailability—drives innovation: researchers chase phospholipid-based delivery, microencapsulation, and combination pills that amplify absorption. Regulatory clarity from both FDA and EMA will bring standardization in dosing and claims, slashing the current supermarket spread of underdosed or impure products. Expect to see more clinical trials testing combination therapies: berberine paired with plant sterols, prebiotics, or standard anti-diabetic drugs. Biotechnology companies ramp up mutational studies to engineer plants with increased berberine content, supporting sustainable sourcing that matches growing demand. In the environmental health field, low-toxicity antimicrobials like berberine sulfate could supplant synthetic agents in wound care and food preservation. As big data and machine learning guide new indications, this alkaloid’s complex pharmacology may crack into conditions far beyond those old herbalists ever dreamed.




What are the health benefits of Berberine Sulfate?

What’s Backing the Buzz?

Berberine sulfate keeps showing up in social feeds and health podcasts. This isn’t some new synthetic or exotic lab project. Berberine comes from roots like barberry, goldenseal, and a few other plants that’ve been used in folk remedies for centuries.

People who care about their health are picking up berberine for one big reason—blood sugar. In published research from journals such as Metabolism and Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, berberine helped lower fasting blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. It worked at levels similar to common prescription choices, like metformin. As someone whose family juggles blood sugar concerns, I pay attention when a supplement like this turns up in actual double-blind studies, not just stories online.

Helps With Blood Sugar—But Don’t Dump the Doctor

The big takeaway for most folks is berberine supports healthier blood sugar levels. The mechanism doesn’t just target one part of the problem. It supports insulin sensitivity, so cells listen better to insulin’s message. It encourages cells to use more glucose, so sugar doesn’t just sit in your bloodstream causing chaos. Research finds lower fasting and post-meal blood sugar readings, which can mean better energy and less risk for complications down the road.

Yet, anyone who skips doctor visits, throws out medication, or ditches proven routines sets themselves up for real trouble. Study authors, endocrinologists, and nutrition researchers keep repeating this message. Berberine acts as a booster, not a replacement. Self-experimentation without follow-up bloodwork isn’t smart. I’ve learned the hard way: chasing shortcuts mostly adds confusion—or worse, makes daily life harder by masking problems until they explode.

Beyond Blood Sugar—What Else Is There?

Berberine isn’t a one-trick pony. Doctors and university scientists discovered it supports heart health, too. It tends to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, both of which connect strongly to cardiovascular disease. Clinical studies—often over twelve weeks or longer—showed gentle but meaningful reductions. One of my own relatives managed to lower their cholesterol enough to delay starting a statin drug, though they kept checking with their doctor before making any big changes.

People dealing with metabolic syndrome—high blood sugar, extra belly fat, high cholesterol, and hypertension—often look for a single solution. Berberine supports several of these problems at once. It supports healthy fat metabolism. It supports gut health by shaping the types of bacteria that grow in the intestines, which researchers now link to everything from mood to immune balance.

Quality, Consistency, and Caution

People get excited, order a supplement, and forget the quality varies—sometimes by a mile. Brands with third-party testing and clear sourcing give a better shot at real benefits. Cheap knockoffs or unlabeled extracts miss the mark and even risk contamination. I go after tested, reputable brands because I’ve tossed disappointing products before—and wasted good money.

Side effects do spring up, mostly stomach issues like cramping or diarrhea if people use high doses. It interacts with certain prescription drugs, including those for diabetes or blood pressure. Pregnant women and young kids should skip it. Every credible source, from Mayo Clinic to the Cleveland Clinic, stresses this point: talk to a primary care or a pharmacist before starting.

Building a Smarter Routine

Supplements like berberine sulfate make sense for people serious about self-care, especially where blood sugar or cholesterol stays stubborn. Simple changes—a daily walk, better sleep routines, and healthier meals—still hold up as the foundation. I’ve seen family members and friends do best when they treat berberine as one of many tools. They don’t fixate on it, but they don’t ignore the research either.

Are there any side effects associated with Berberine Sulfate?

Understanding Berberine Sulfate

Interest in herbal supplements keeps growing, and among them, Berberine Sulfate grabs plenty of attention. People talk about it like it’s a golden ticket for blood sugar and weight control. The truth is, many have found positive changes after starting Berberine. They see lower blood sugar, improved cholesterol numbers, and sometimes an easier ride with cravings. Still, that’s not the whole story.

The Side Effects Nobody Should Ignore

Every supplement has two sides. People asking about Berberine Sulfate often want a natural fix and figure it’s all gain, no pain. That's not really how biology plays out. Using Berberine often leads to some stomach trouble, especially early on. Nausea, cramps, and diarrhea come up more than most folks hope. A sudden rush to the bathroom after a morning dose derails a workday fast. I’ve seen enough patients give up Berberine simply to avoid these discomforts.

The next concern grows out of Berberine’s main job. It targets metabolism, helps with blood sugar swings, and slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates. For diabetics on standard medications, adding Berberine could drop blood sugars lower than healthy, leading to real risks like confusion or fainting. I’ve heard stories right in clinic halls: a simple supplement taken after dinner, paired with metformin, caused someone to nearly pass out from hypoglycemia.

Beyond the Obvious: More Complicated Risks

Digging deeper, there are oddities that often fly under the radar. Berberine can interfere with the way the liver breaks down drugs. This means other prescriptions, especially blood thinners, antidepressants, or anti-seizure meds, might build up to unsafe levels. People managing multiple chronic illnesses run into trouble if this warning slips past them.

Kids and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be extra cautious. There’s no strong safety data in these groups. Choosing to skip Berberine is usually smarter for them, even if the internet or a friend recommends it.

Why Quality Matters

Supplements don’t face the same checks that pharmaceuticals do. This gives shady sellers a loophole to offer weak, contaminated, or mislabeled products. Inconsistent doses catch up to health sooner or later. The only safe path runs straight through products with independent third-party testing. If a bottle lacks real scrutiny, there’s no telling what’s inside.

Making Smarter Choices

Having worked in health care for years, the pattern repeats itself: curiosity about natural products, followed by a rush to self-experiment. Many people skip simple steps like checking with their doctor. Yet, Berberine can turn into more trouble than help without the right advice. I always ask patients to bring in every supplement they’re considering, and I check for conflicts against their meds and conditions. That conversation can head off the worst side effects and help make sure they’re spending hard-earned money on something worthwhile, not a wild card.

Better Answers Start with Better Questions

People want safer, more natural health solutions, and that hunger pushes them toward Berberine Sulfate out of hope. Risks get ignored or downplayed in the process. The best results show up for folks willing to ask blunt questions, check for possible conflicts, and buy only well-tested products. Stomach trouble, drug interactions, and unpredictable side effects deserve serious attention. Smart choices come from facing those facts rather than brushing them aside.

How should Berberine Sulfate be taken or dosed?

What Does Berberine Sulfate Offer?

Berberine sulfate gets a lot of attention for its ability to help manage blood sugar, cholesterol, and even support gut health. This yellow alkaloid turns up in some pretty old herbal traditions, like Chinese medicine, but today it’s got lots of folks reading studies and scrolling for supplement deals. One reason I started looking into berberine was the buzz about its effect on blood sugar—something I keep an eye on myself, given my family history with diabetes.

How Much Makes Sense?

Researchers usually use daily doses ranging from 900 mg to 1,500 mg, broken up into two or three servings. Most folks take 500 mg two or three times a day—often with meals. That’s because berberine clears out of the blood pretty fast. If you only take it once in the morning, your body doesn’t keep much around by dinnertime. In my experience taking a 500 mg capsule before breakfast and dinner made more sense than loading it all at once.

Swallowing berberine sulfate tends to bring a bitter taste if the capsule opens by accident, so I always drink plenty of water. Starting low can help avoid stomach grumbles; some get cramps or a trip to the bathroom if they begin with a high dose. After a few days at a lower dose, the body usually adjusts.

Any Risks or Side Effects?

Berberine can upset the gut, especially for those with sensitive digestion. Nausea, constipation, or even diarrhea shows up in some folks. For me, taking it with food helped. Alongside that, berberine blocks some liver enzymes—so people taking certain meds, especially for blood pressure or infection, need to check with their healthcare provider first. There’s a real risk of drug interactions; the supplement isn’t a fix-all or suitable for everyone. Pregnant women, kids, and nursing moms should skip it.

Overdosing won’t double or triple the results but may bring on stronger side effects. Labels on supplements can’t substitute experience or medical advice. The U.S. FDA doesn’t control dietary supplements as tightly as prescriptions. Good quality brands have third-party testing, and it pays to look for those.

Why Dosage Matters

Anyone thinking about berberine should track their blood sugar or cholesterol numbers with their healthcare provider, not just rely on how they feel. Sometimes, people combine berberine with other herbs, but that’s rolling the dice, especially if new to supplements.

It helps to give it a fair run—studies usually watch for about 8 to 12 weeks for clear signs of improvement. I kept a log for a while, noting changes in energy, digestion, and bloodwork. Results aren’t always overnight, and missing doses won’t help either.

In the end, successful use means the right amount, at the right time, and under the watchful eye of someone who knows the facts. That’s what builds trust—real-world data, transparency from the supplement company, and open conversation with a health professional.

Can Berberine Sulfate interact with other medications?

Real Stories, Real Impact

Walking into a supplement store or scrolling through health sites, berberine stands out. It’s pushed as a natural remedy, promising lower blood sugar, healthy cholesterol, weight loss, maybe even longer life. Across kitchen tables, people share stories. Someone’s aunt swears her blood sugar stabilized after starting berberine. A friend says it helped his digestion more than any prescription. It's easy to feel like, “If it’s natural, it must be safe.”

But real life doesn’t work that way, especially when other medications get involved. A few years ago, my uncle decided to try berberine alongside his diabetes medicine. He read online that it came from a plant and figured that made it harmless. Within days, his blood sugars dropped too low, and he landed in the ER. His experience wasn’t unique. Research and many doctors warn the same: natural doesn’t mean risk-free, especially with other medications in the mix.

Known Interactions: What Science Says

Scientists have dug into berberine’s effects, and several clear patterns emerge. People taking metformin, a common medicine for diabetes, might see a double-whammy effect with berberine. Blood sugar can go down faster and lower than intended. One study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that taking both raised the risk of hypoglycemia. Anyone on insulin or other diabetes drugs faces a similar risk. Nobody enjoys shaky hands, confusion, or worse just from trying a new supplement.

Heart patients get another surprise. Berberine can interact with blood thinners like warfarin. Mixing the two may increase bleeding risk, according to clinical reports and pharmacology databases. Those with high blood pressure or on statins also need to pay attention. Berberine affects liver enzymes involved in breaking down medicine. It can change how much of the drug sticks around in the bloodstream. With carvedilol or some cholesterol pills, this means unpredictable results—sometimes the drug gets too strong, sometimes too weak.

Some antibiotics interact with berberine as well. People taking macrolide antibiotics like clarithromycin or erythromycin put themselves at higher risk for heart rhythm problems when combining these drugs. Data from drug interaction resources show that both berberine and these antibiotics affect the heart’s electrical signals in similar ways, so stacking them isn’t smart.

Why Checking Matters More Than Ever

Pharmacies can barely keep up with the wave of supplements on shelves. Doctors don’t always ask about what’s in your medicine cabinet besides prescriptions. This builds risk, especially for people over fifty who usually take several medications each day. In the U.S. alone, around 50% of adults use at least one dietary supplement. Berberine’s popularity climbs every year, meaning more people juggle it with heart pills, blood sugar medicines, and antibiotics.

Strong evidence doesn’t only support talking with a doctor before starting berberine. It makes it clear. Several professional groups, including the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, emphasize this step. The solution here isn’t to avoid berberine completely or fear every herbal product. It's smarter to be honest with doctors and pharmacists. Print out supplement facts or bring the bottle, so they can double check for trouble areas.

If the goal is managing health—especially blood sugar or heart conditions—regular blood tests and open conversations with health care teams protect against nasty surprises. In my experience, the folks who track their medicines and ask questions tend to stay out of the ER and keep their goals on track.

Is Berberine Sulfate effective for weight loss or blood sugar control?

Why People Look to Berberine Sulfate

Interest in natural supplements runs deep these days, with folks eager to find an edge on stubborn health problems. Berberine sulfate sits near the top of that list, mostly because people hear good things about its potential to fight high blood sugar and extra pounds. Having talked with patients who hope a supplement can fix what fast food and late nights make worse, I see why many reach for something like berberine. So, does it truly live up to its reputation, and should someone skip the pharmacy for a bottle at the health food store?

What Research Tells Us

Science gives some reason for hope. Several small clinical trials point out how berberine may lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. One widely cited study out of China compared it directly with metformin, a common diabetes drug. The findings look impressive, showing similar drops in blood sugar for both groups. Other research hints at possible improvements in cholesterol and triglycerides, too.

Talking weight loss, some studies offer a bit of promise but paint a less clear picture. For example, one trial of obese adults reported an average loss of five pounds in three months, along with better blood sugar numbers. Still, amounts like this rarely impress anyone who has tried to lose weight for years. Losing a few pounds over months feels slow, but it’s still better than adding new medications.

The supplement world faces a big issue: quality and purity change from bottle to bottle, and very few makers send their products for independent testing. Real risks show up if someone takes berberine along with other medications, such as metformin or statins. Problems like low blood sugar or stomach upset come up more than most companies admit.

Trust, Safety, and Smart Choices

Taking advice from social media influencers rarely helps, even if they show dramatic before-and-after photos. Personal stories matter, but they seldom replace careful study or advice from a trained health provider. In my practice, I see more people burned by hidden interactions than truly helped by “miracle” supplements.

More doctors now ask patients directly about their supplement use, because products like berberine interact with common medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t actively regulate dietary supplements, so shoppers end up relying on brands with little oversight. Some online sellers fill capsules with whatever powder happens to look right, with a lot less care than a licensed pharmacist would use.

Better Ways Forward

Most people hoping to control weight and keep blood sugar in check already know the basics: healthier meals, more movement, and sticking to regular sleep patterns. Supplements rarely fill gaps left by skipped walks or late-night ice cream. Anyone interested in berberine can talk it over with a doctor or pharmacist, especially if they already take medication for diabetes or high cholesterol.

No single supplement replaces the foundation of steady habits and solid medical care. Used as part of a broader plan and with guidance from health professionals, berberine might play a role for some people — but it’s never a quick fix, no matter what the bottle promises.

Berberine Sulfate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name (5aS,7S,8aR,13S,13aR,13bS)-2,3,9,10-tetramethoxy-13-methyl-5,5a,6,7,8,8a,13,13a-octahydro-7,13b-epoxybenzo[g][1,3]benzodioxolo[5,6-a]quinolizinium sulfate
Other names Berberine sulfate hydrate
Berberine hemisulfate
Berberine sulphate
Berberine sulfate hydrate (1:1:2)
Berberine sulfate (1:1)
Berberine sulphate hydrate
Pronunciation /ˈbɜːr.bəˌriːn ˈsʌl.feɪt/
Identifiers
CAS Number 141433-60-5
Beilstein Reference 2320150
ChEBI CHEBI:3196
ChEMBL CHEMBL1648
ChemSpider 2176
DrugBank DB04115
ECHA InfoCard 11e0668c-2d6d-467e-bb2b-cb61e8e247be
EC Number 613-603-3
Gmelin Reference 145972
KEGG C16585
MeSH D016687
PubChem CID 12389
RTECS number DS1750000
UNII 0G3TZJ0JU1
UN number UN2811
Properties
Chemical formula C40H40N2O16S
Molar mass 836.99 g/mol
Appearance Yellow crystalline powder
Odor Odorless
Density 1.5 g/cm3
Solubility in water Slightly soluble in water
log P -2.24
Acidity (pKa) 13.6
Basicity (pKb) -5.8
Magnetic susceptibility (χ) -84.0×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol
Refractive index (nD) 1.67
Viscosity Viscous liquid
Dipole moment 4.0586 D
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (S⦵298) 603.8 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹
Pharmacology
ATC code A15BA04
Hazards
Main hazards Harmful if swallowed. Causes serious eye irritation. Causes skin irritation. May cause respiratory irritation.
GHS labelling GHS07, GHS08
Pictograms GHS07
Signal word Warning
Hazard statements H302: Harmful if swallowed.
Precautionary statements Precautionary statements: P264, P270, P301+P312, P330, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) 2-1-0
Flash point > 230°C
Lethal dose or concentration LD50 oral rat 329 mg/kg
LD50 (median dose) LD50 (median dose): 2050 mg/kg (oral, rat)
NIOSH WXJ0752J14
PEL (Permissible) 10 mg/m3
REL (Recommended) 500 mg
Related compounds
Related compounds Berberine chloride
Berberine hydrochloride
Berberine hemisulfate
Berberine nitrate
Palmatine
Coptisine