Berberine Sulfate 98%

Berberine sulfate is a defined sulfate salt of berberine, a quaternary protoberberine isoquinoline alkaloid naturally occurring in botanical genera including Coptis, Phellodendron, and Berberis. The commercial ingredient is supplied as a purified alkaloid salt rather than as a whole botanical powder or conventional ratio extract, giving it a clearly defined chemical identity for formulation and ingredient sourcing.

The principal commercial specification is 98% HPLC. The anhydrous 2:1 sulfate form is identified by CAS 316-41-6, providing a defined salt identity for analytical evaluation and formulation. Berberine bisulfate, berberine hydrochloride, and hydrated sulfate forms are chemically distinct materials and should not be treated as interchangeable specifications.

SKU: BOT-PHY-0008 Categories: Phytochemicals, Alkaloids Tags: Alkaloids, Berberine Sulfate, Isoquinoline Alkaloids, Metabolic Support, Protoberberine Alkaloids

Ingredient Profile & Common Uses

Berberine belongs to the protoberberine group of isoquinoline alkaloids and contains a permanently charged quaternary nitrogen within its fused-ring structure. In the neutral sulfate form, two berberine cations are associated with one sulfate dianion. This purified salt identity distinguishes the ingredient from crude Coptis or Phellodendron powders and from multi-component botanical extracts containing berberine alongside other naturally occurring constituents.

Commercial comparison should focus on salt form, hydration state, analytical basis, and equivalent berberine content rather than assay percentage alone. Neutral sulfate, bisulfate, hydrochloride, and hydrated sulfate materials differ in molecular composition and formula weight. These differences become important when comparing quotations, analytical documents, formulation inputs, or alternative raw-material specifications.

The material has a characteristic light-yellow to yellow appearance and is soluble in water. The concentrated alkaloid also contributes an intense yellow color and pronounced bitterness, making color contribution, taste management, dispersion, and blend uniformity relevant during formulation. In dry systems, controlled premixing can help distribute a low-inclusion ingredient more uniformly before incorporation into the full batch.

Application Areas

Capsules & Tablets

The 98% grade can be evaluated in concentrated solid-dose formulations where a chemically defined berberine salt is preferred over a multi-component botanical extract.

Powder Premixes

Suitable for dry premixes and powder systems where controlled incorporation helps manage low addition levels, strong color, and blend-uniformity requirements.

Aqueous Formulation Development

The water-soluble salt form can be evaluated in aqueous systems, with concentration, pH, visual clarity, precipitation behavior, and sensory impact assessed during development.

Ingredient & Formulation R&D

The defined sulfate identity supports development work involving salt-form comparison, analytical interpretation, ingredient equivalency, and formulation behavior before scale-up or commercial sourcing.

Typical Specifications

Parameter	Specification / Reference
Product Name	Berberine Sulfate
Primary Commercial Grade	98%
Primary Analytical Method	HPLC
CAS Number	316-41-6
EC Number	206-258-2
Salt Form	Berberine Sulfate
Salt Stoichiometry	2:1 Berberine : Sulfate
Molecular Formula	C40H36N2O12S
Molecular Weight	768.79 g/mol
Ingredient Type	Purified alkaloid sulfate salt
Chemical Class	Protoberberine isoquinoline alkaloid
Physical Form	Powder to crystalline solid
Characteristic Appearance	Light yellow to yellow
Water Behavior	Soluble in water

Compound Identity & Purity

The neutral sulfate contains two berberine cations per sulfate dianion. This 2:1 composition differs from berberine bisulfate, which uses a 1:1 hydrogen sulfate relationship, and from hydrated sulfate forms containing additional water of crystallization. These forms share the same berberine alkaloid nucleus but differ in molecular composition, formula weight, and material-equivalency calculations.

A 98% specification commonly refers to chromatographic purity or assay under the stated analytical method. HPLC purity, quantitative titration, and assay calculated on an anhydrous basis are related but distinct measurements. A “98% HPLC” declaration therefore describes the defined sulfate material under that analytical basis rather than indicating 98% free berberine by molecular weight. This distinction is particularly relevant when comparing quotations, COAs, and alternative berberine salts.

Technical & Quality Considerations

HPLC is appropriate for evaluating the berberine-related chromatographic profile and high-assay grade, but chromatographic purity alone does not define the counter-ion or hydration state. Incoming-material evaluation should therefore combine quantitative assay with appropriate identity documentation or complementary testing where confirmation of the intended salt form is required.

During powder processing, formulators should evaluate distribution uniformity, flow, segregation risk, and interaction with excipients. The strong natural color of the alkaloid can make non-uniform distribution visually apparent, while concentrated addition levels may require premixing before full-batch blending. In aqueous prototypes, developers should evaluate dissolution, concentration effects, pH environment, visual stability, precipitation, and sensory impact.

Scale-up should also account for material equivalency when switching between different berberine salts. When replacing hydrochloride, bisulfate, or another form, formulation quantities should be recalculated according to molecular composition, salt identity, and assay basis rather than substituted on a simple equal-weight basis. This is particularly important when comparing supplier specifications or transferring an existing formulation to a different raw-material form.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.